Whether a lily blooms more than once depends on the type of plant referenced. The term “lily” commonly describes two botanically different plants, causing frequent confusion among gardeners. True Lilies produce a single flowering event each season, while Daylilies produce multiple flushes of color throughout the growing period. Understanding this botanical difference determines the correct care and expectation for repeat flowering.
The Critical Distinction: True Lilies Versus Daylilies
The two plants commonly called “lilies” belong to separate genera, which dictates their growth and flowering habits. True Lilies (Lilium) grow from a true bulb, an underground storage organ composed of fleshy scales. These plants feature leaves distributed along the entire length of a single, upright stem.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) grow from fibrous or tuberous roots, not true bulbs. Their foliage is long, strap-like, and grows in clumps only from the base of the plant. The name Hemerocallis means “beauty for a day,” referencing that each individual flower lasts about 24 hours. However, the plant produces many buds on multiple flower stalks, leading to a succession of blooms over several weeks or months.
The Single Bloom Cycle of True Lilies
True Lilies (e.g., Asiatic, Oriental, and Trumpet varieties) flower only once per stem during the growing season. A single stalk emerges from the perennial bulb, producing buds that open sequentially over one to three weeks. Once the flowers on that stalk finish blooming, that specific stem will not produce new flowers again that year.
Post-bloom care focuses on ensuring the health of the perennial bulb for the following year, not encouraging a second flowering. After the flowers fade, remove the spent blooms (deadheading) to prevent the plant from forming seed pods. Seed production requires significant energy that should instead be stored in the bulb.
The green foliage remaining on the stem must be allowed to remain until it naturally yellows and dies back (senescence). These leaves perform photosynthesis, creating and storing energy reserves within the bulb for the next season’s growth. Removing the foliage too soon prevents this essential recharging and results in weak or absent flowers the following year.
Strategies for Encouraging Repeat Blooms
Daylilies, especially modern hybrid cultivars, are responsible for the belief that lilies rebloom. Many newer varieties are specifically bred to be “rebloomers,” capable of producing a second or third flush of flowers after the initial bloom cycle. This repeat performance relies on specific maintenance practices.
The primary strategy for encouraging repeat blooms is the consistent removal of spent flower stalks (scapes) before they can form seeds. Once all individual flowers on a stalk have faded, the entire scape should be cut back close to the base. This action redirects the plant’s energy away from reproduction and toward the development of new flower stalks.
Reblooming requires substantial energy, which must be supported with adequate resources. Between the first and second bloom cycles, the plant benefits from supplemental fertilization, such as a balanced granular fertilizer applied mid-season. Consistent soil moisture is important, as dry conditions stress the plant and inhibit the formation of new buds and scapes.