Earlier this week, I received this Facebook post from Cheryl, a high school friend: “Hey, plant lady. Looking for guidance. Got this Asiatic Lily… orange color. Trying to deadhead…removed dead flowers but don’t know where to cut to promote new blooms. Looking for guidance from the expert.” It’s nice to know that someone considers me an expert, but I have to refresh my knowledge when someone asks me about a topic I haven’t covered in years. Asiatic and Oriental lilies are hybrids that belong to the genus Lilium. They are true lilies, unlike daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) and lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis). Native to Asia and Japan, the showy lilies are popular additions to North American gardens, and will thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Both hybrids are single-season bloomers. Asiatic and Oriental lilies grow well in full sun to part shade, requiring at least six hours of sunlight daily. They need moist, rich, well-drained soil with a covering of mulch to prevent the roots ...