Oriental lily (Lilium 'Pink Heaven')
Lilium 'Pink Heaven' is a showy, fragrant Oriental lily perfect for summer color. Hardy in Zones 5-9, plant for spectacular pink blooms.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’, a magnificent Oriental lily hybrid, brings strong visual appeal to any garden setting with its fragrant, flared, outward-facing flowers. This standout bulbous perennial is valued for its robust stature and reliable summer performance in the landscape. Gardeners appreciate the easy cultivation of this interdivisional hybrid once its basic needs for drainage and sun exposure are met.
Growing to a manageable height of 3 to 4 feet, Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ produces deep pink blooms throughout July and August, providing excellent mid-summer color contrast. As a classic example of the Oriental lily group, it offers the strong fragrance many gardeners seek for cut flowers or borders. Proper planting in the fall or early spring ensures success for this medium-maintenance variety.
This striking cultivar is perfect for adding vertical interest and heavenly fragrance to mixed perennial beds or dedicated bulb displays. By adhering to the specified cultural requirements, gardeners can ensure that their Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ thrives, offering spectacular natural fireworks year after year.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Liliaceae
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-4 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: July to August
- Bloom Description: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Successful planting of Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ bulbs occurs best in the fall or very early spring. Plant bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep in a location receiving full sun to moderate afternoon shade. They thrive in average, medium-moisture soils, but drainage is critical; rich, organic soil amendments are highly recommended to prevent bulb rot. Ensure the upper part of the plant receives sun while the roots remain shaded, perhaps by mulching heavily.
Maintain medium water needs throughout the season, ensuring the soil stays evenly moist but never waterlogged, as excessive moisture rapidly leads to bulb rot. Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ benefits from regular feeding appropriate for lilies. Taller stems may require staking, especially if grown in too much shade, which can weaken the structure, or in windy spots.
Deadhead faded flowers promptly to prevent seed formation, which conserves the plant’s energy for future blooms. Do not cut the foliage back after the bloom period ends. Wait until the leaves and stems naturally yellow later in the season before cutting them back entirely, allowing the bulb to store necessary energy reserves.
Potted plants offer flexibility and can be planted any time between spring and fall, though the timing listed above prioritizes standard garden bulb planting. Space bulbs about 12 inches apart and consider planting them in groups of three for the most visually impactful Oriental lily display.
Landscape Uses
Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ is an excellent choice for injecting vibrant, fragrant color into the summer landscape. Its 3 to 4-foot height makes it a perfect material for the middle or back of the perennial border, where its showy presence can contrast beautifully with shorter foliage plants. Groupings are highly recommended to maximize visual impact and intensify the wonderful fragrance associated with Oriental lilies.
Beyond borders, this variety performs admirably in containers, although blooms may be slightly smaller when restricted by pot size. This versatility allows gardeners with limited space to still enjoy the splendor of the Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’. Furthermore, the rigid stems and large flowers make them absolutely suitable for fresh floral arrangements, fulfilling their designation as a good cut flower.
When designing, pair the deep pink of Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ with cool blues, whites, or contrasting deep purples found in complementary summer bloomers like Salvia or Veronica for sophisticated color schemes.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ is an interdivisional hybrid lily, specifically crossing a longiflorum hybrid with an Oriental hybrid. It is recognized by its flared, outward-facing, fragrant, deep pink flowers that appear during mid to late summer. The flowers are borne on rigid stems reaching 36 to 42 inches tall, supported by glossy, medium to dark green, lance-shaped leaves.
Tolerances
No specific tolerance data was provided.
Potential Problems
Lily leaf beetles pose a significant threat and can become highly problematic in infested areas, requiring diligent scouting and manual removal. Management of aphid populations is also critical, as these insects vector the incurable lily mosaic virus.
Bulb rot, particularly when soils retain too much moisture or drain poorly, is a major concern, underscoring the need for well-drained soil during the growing season for this Oriental lily. Fungal infections like botrytis can also occur, usually favored by damp, crowded conditions.
To mitigate these issues, inspect plants frequently for pests like the dreaded lily leaf beetle. Ensure optimal cultural conditions—especially drainage—to protect the bulbs from rot. Provide adequate air circulation to minimize fungal pressure on the leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Oriental lily suitable for?
Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ is suitable for growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, meaning it tolerates winter lows down to -20°F.
How large does Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ grow?
This plant typically reaches a mature height between 3 and 4 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ need?
This Oriental lily prefers a location that receives full sun, though it tolerates partial shade, especially protection during the intense afternoon heat.
When does Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ bloom?
Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ puts on its display of pink flowers during the summer months, specifically from July through August.
Conclusion
The Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ remains a highly desirable choice for gardeners seeking reliable summer performance coupled with exceptional fragrance. This beautiful Oriental lily provides structure, vibrant pink color, and aromatic appeal throughout the peak season. Ensure your planting site offers excellent drainage and plan to plant your bulbs in the fall or early spring for a magnificent show next summer.
Companion Planting
When seeking companions for Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’, focus on plants that enjoy similar medium moisture conditions and benefit from providing shade to the lily bulb area. Low-growing perennials such as Hostas, especially those with variegated or blue foliage, work wonderfully to fulfill the requirement of keeping the bulb zone cool and shaded while the lily stems rise above them.
Avoid planting aggressive spreaders that compete strongly for root space or moisture. Excellent partners include Geraniums, shorter varieties of Astilbe in partial shade areas, or Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) along the front edge, whose silvery texture beautifully contrasts the dark green foliage of the Oriental lily.
These companion plantings not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also contribute positively to the microclimate surrounding your Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’, helping to maintain consistent soil moisture and temperature.
Design Ideas for Vertical Interest
Utilizing the strong vertical habit of Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ is key to dynamic garden design. Plant them in staggered clusters of three or five within a mixed border to create bursts of color rather than a single, lonely stem. Their height allows them to function as temporary “living stakes” that integrate perfectly near supports needed by taller, floppier plants later in the season.
Consider using these lilies near walkways or entrances where their powerful fragrance can be fully appreciated during evening strolls. Their upright, rigid stems make them an excellent choice for cottage-style gardens or formalized perennial beds needing mid-season focal points before dedicated late-summer bloomers take over.
For contemporary arrangements, plant groups of Lilium ‘Pink Heaven’ against a backdrop of fine-textured grasses. The textural contrast between the broad lily leaves and the airy grass plumes provides modern visual interest, complemented by the classic pink bloom color.
