Orienpet lily (Lilium 'Touching')
Magnificent Orienpet lily, Lilium 'Touching', boasts large, fragrant yellow blooms with rose-red centers. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Lilium ‘Touching’ is a spectacular hybrid, categorized as an Orienpet lily, resulting from a cross between Oriental and Trumpet lilies. Gardeners prize this variety for its impressive stature, intensely fragrant flowers, and unique coloring—bright yellow petals splashed with a striking rose-red center. This robust bulb provides a powerful vertical element and tropical fragrance in the mid-summer garden, fitting neatly into borders or containers.
Growing Lilium ‘Touching’ is relatively straightforward, classifying it as a low-maintenance addition once established in the correct environment. These perennials thrive in well-drained soil and prefer reliable moisture throughout the growing season. Proper siting ensures the strong, rigid stems can support the large, showy blooms without excessive tipping.
Valuable for its aesthetic impact, the Orienpet lily provides high-impact color when many spring bulbs are fading. Whether admired up close for its fragrance near a patio or used as a stunning specimen in the perennial border, Lilium ‘Touching’ delivers reliable, vibrant performance year after year.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Liliaceae
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Yellow with rose-red center
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting bulbs for Lilium ‘Touching’ should occur in the fall or very early spring for the best results, setting them approximately 4 to 6 inches deep in the ground. This Orienpet lily prefers average, medium-moisture soil that drains exceptionally well; rich, organic matter is beneficial. Cultivate a spot where the upper portion of the plant receives full sun, but the root zone remains shaded and cool, often achieved by mulching heavily around the base.
Watering should be kept consistent; bulbs require good, even moisture year-round, but excessive wetness leads directly to bulb rot. Maintenance is generally low, but deadhead spent flowers promptly to prevent seed set. After the bloom season concludes and the foliage on the stems begins to yellow naturally, you may cut the stalks back completely. Taller varieties or those sited in too much shade may require staking for support against heavy summer winds or flower weight.
Space your groupings about 12 inches apart, planting in odd numbers, such as groups of three, to achieve the most impactful display of these showy flowers. Potted plants have more flexibility and can be planted anytime between spring and fall, provided you maintain consistent watering until they establish.
Landscape Uses
Lilium ‘Touching’ serves as an excellent, showy focal point throughout the summer perennial border, offering deep color contrast to surrounding foliage. These lilies perform best when planted in groups rather than as solitary specimens, allowing their fragrance and size to register effectively in the landscape design. Because their requirements align well with many traditional cottage garden staples, they pair beautifully with companion plants that enjoy similar conditions.
Consider planting fragrant groupings near outdoor living spaces, such as decks or patios, to maximize enjoyment of the strong summer perfume emitted by the large blossoms of this Orienpet lily. While they achieve their ideal stature in the ground, Lilium ‘Touching’ also adapts well to container culture, though the resulting blooms may be slightly reduced in size compared to ground-grown specimens. They are exceptional material for cutting gardens, providing dramatic vertical structure in fresh arrangements.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lilium ‘Touching’ is an orienpet (oriental × trumpet) hybrid lily, categorized within Division VIII of hybrid lilies recognized by horticultural societies. It displays sturdy, 2 to 3-foot rigid stems adorned with deep green, lance-shaped leaves. The terminal flowers are wonderfully fragrant, slightly recurved, and can reach up to 8 inches across, presenting a vivid yellow shade accented by a rich rose-red center.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Lily leaf beetles pose a significant threat and can cause rapid defoliation if not managed promptly in affected areas. Disease management focuses heavily on cultural practices; ensure excellent drainage to prevent bulb rot, which is exacerbated by overly wet conditions. Vigilance against aphids is crucial, as they vector the often fatal lily mosaic virus—quarantine or remove infected plants immediately since no chemical cure exists for the virus itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lilium ‘Touching’ suitable for?
The Orienpet lily, Lilium ‘Touching’, is reliably suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Lilium ‘Touching’ grow?
This variety typically reaches a height between 2 and 3 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Lilium ‘Touching’ need?
Lilium ‘Touching’ thrives best in locations receiving full sun to partial shade exposure.
When does Lilium ‘Touching’ bloom?
Expect the distinctive yellow with rose-red center blooms of this Orienpet lily to appear from June into July.
Conclusion
The Lilium ‘Touching’ Orienpet lily offers gardeners a blend of impressive size, captivating color, and powerful fragrance, making it a standout specimen for mid-summer interest. Integrating this low-maintenance bulb into borders or containers ensures vertical drama and exotic perfume in your garden design. Confirm your site offers consistent moisture and well-drained soil, and plan your fall planting now to enjoy the magnificent blooms of Lilium ‘Touching’ next season.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions for Lilium ‘Touching’ requires prioritizing plants that enjoy similar sun exposure and do not vigorously compete for moisture, particularly during the mid-summer dry spells. Group these lilies with mid-height border perennials that offer contrasting foliage textures, such as silvery Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) or deep green Hostas planted strategically on the north side to help shade and cool the lily roots. Plants like Catmint (Nepeta) or Salvia provide excellent, lower-growing blue or purple spikes that complement the yellow and red tones of the Orienpet lily without overcrowding the base.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring care focuses on awakening the dormant bulb; apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer once new shoots emerge, but avoid high nitrogen formulas which encourage weak stems prone to lodging. As warmer weather sets in, ensure ample mulch is present to keep the root zones cool—a critical cultural requirement for the health of nearly all hybrid lilies. Summer maintenance involves deadheading faded blooms of your Lilium ‘Touching’ to redirect energy back into the bulb, ensuring a strong return next year.
Fall is the ideal time to assess staking needs for the following season or to divide overcrowded clumps if necessary; plant any new bulbs during this time for established growth next year. Resist the urge to cut back the spent stems in fall; leave them standing through winter to protect the crown and provide natural insulation against harsh freezes. Wait until these stems turn fully yellow or brittle before cutting them down near the ground in early spring.
