What types of lilies have a strong fragrance ?

Jul 30

It’s no secret that the scent of lilies can be polarizing. Some people (like myself) love it, while others can’t stand to be in the same room as a fragrant bouquet of lilies.

Luckily there are lilies that fall all along the spectrum of scent. Some are classified as having virtually no fragrance, while others are described as being incredibly strong.

There are two main types of lilies we like to grow for our customers who can not tolerate or do not enjoy the scent of lilies. Asiatic and LA Hybrid (also known as LAx or Longiflorium-Asiatic by some suppliers) lilies are described as having little to no scent. These lilies are usually some of the earliest to bloom each season.

Eyeliner is one of my very favorite LA Hybrid lilies that we grow at Little Farmhouse Flowers. This simple white elegant lily has a slight black picotee and carries no fragrance. This lily is perfect for wedding work where guests may be sensitive to the scent of lilies.
Photo by Linda D’Arco

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have Oriental and OT Hybrid lilies (also known as Oriental-Trumpet, Orienpet, or OTx) which can carry a very strong fragrance. Some say the scent of Oriental lilies is especially strong in the evenings. I’ve heard that you can remove the anthers to lessen the scent of the lilies. I haven’t tried this myself… but I may do an experiment and report back.

Catina is a soft yellow strongly scented OT lily.
Photo by Linda D’Arco

Finally, we have roselilies and martagon lilies. While not as powerful as an OT or Oriental lily, the rose lily and martagon lily can still carry a sweet and light fragrance.