Stargazer Lily: How To Care For Stargazer Lilies

Pinterest Hidden Image

The stargazer lily adds beauty to your garden and a sweet fragrance!

The Stargazer is an oriental type of lily hybrid in the Liliaceae family and native to Japan. It is a beautiful addition and a star in anyone’s garden. It’s impossible to hate these colorful creations of nature.

up close of stargazer lily flowers. Blooms point towards the starsPin

Everyone interested in gardening knows the satisfaction of watching those first teeny tiny buds becoming fully grown blooms spreading their scent across the yard.

Lilium Stargazer Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Lilium ‘Stargazer’
  • Common Name(s): Stargazer Lily
  • Synonyms: N/A
  • Pronunciation: LIL-ee-um
  • Family & Origin: Liliaceae family, native to Japan
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: 4-9
  • Size: Grows up to 30″ to 48″ inches tall and 10″-14″ inches wide
  • Flowering: Blooms with fragrant blooms and white edge petals in mid to late summer
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity
  • Temperature: Prefers cool temperatures between 60-75°F
  • Soil: Moist soil and rich, well-draining soil with organic matter on the acid side
  • Water: Keep the soil moist, do not overwater
  • Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month in early spring with slow controlled-release fertilizer or liquid plant fertilizer
  • Pests & Diseases: Watch for slugs & snails, aphids, and red lily beetle. It’s also prone to gray mold
  • Propagation: Propagate through bulb division in fall or early spring
  • Plant Uses: Great for cut flowers, garden beds, and borders.

Stargazer Oriental Lily Plant Details

The beautiful and dainty Stargazer flower comes from a hybridized form of the famous Japanese wild red lilies compared to the popular Asiatic lily that contains many Lilium species in their background.

Famed for its exquisite color, the beautiful white flower edges (a natural highlight), and the robust and sturdy stem system. But most fascinating of all, the fragrant flowers of Stargazer lilies face upward, unlike other types of lilies.

Stargazer lilies belonging to the genus Lilium only indicate that this is a true lily, not a daylily or a water lily.

Other examples of authentic lilies include the orange tiger lily flower, Easter lily, Turk cap lily (Lilium superbum), pink stargazer lilies, and more.

These lily plants all grow from bulbs with large flower colors that are 6″ – 12″ inches wide (petals) of light to deep pink and even crimson and deep green smooth leaves.

Blooms also come in different shapes and sizes, flowering for weeks in mid-late summer.

These flowering herbaceous perennials thrive outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9.

The combination of traits makes hybrid oriental lilies like the ‘Stargazer’ extremely appealing, putting on a lovely show in the garden or a bouquet as a cut flower.

Growing lilies today is far easier than in the old days, and caring for hybrid lilies like the Stargazer is even simpler.

This article shares tips on planting and caring for Stargazer lilies.

Planting Lily ‘Stargazer’ In Your Garden

These beautiful lilies make for an outstandingly eye-popping element in any garden. These favorite oriental stargazers make almost perfect partners for perennial plants.

These plants grow to a height of 30″ to 48″ inches tall with a 10″-14″ inch spread. Follow the below steps to plant Stargazer lilies:

  • Spring is the best time to buy bulbs.
  • Purchase healthy, good-sized bulbs free of any visible rotting.
  • Plant bulbs in a location with good full sun exposure and well-drained soil rich in organic matter and on the acidic side. The ideal location receives full sunlight in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
  • Plant bulbs 6″ – 7″ inches deep, approximately 5″ – 6″ inches apart in flower beds with a prepared soil bed that includes lots of organic matter.
  • Water carefully after planting.
flower of the stargazer plant bulbsPin
Lily ‘Stargazer’

How To Grow Stargazer Lilies In Pots

Our tips for growing stargazer lilies.

The Stargazer plant grows perfectly well in containers, even indoors, with little care and time.

To grow stargazer flowers in containers, follow the below steps:

  • The first step in container gardening is always to choose the right container. To grow healthy and beautiful lily stargazer bulbs, select a container at least 6.5″ inches in diameter.
  • Always choose a pot that provides good drainage. The material should not be porous – avoid unglazed clay pots.
  • Fill the container with a suitable well-drained soil mixture. Ask your garden center for the best-growing medium for lilies.
  • Make sure the soil pH is around 6.5 to 6.9. That’s the best for starting bulbs.
  • Avoid soil mixes containing superphosphate, which may cause leaf burning.
  • Plant bulbs in the container at a depth of 5″–6″ inches, cover it well, and water gently.
  • It prefers moderate humidity.

Caring For Stargazing Lily Bulbs

All plants require some attention to give good results, and Stargazer lily bulbs are no different.

Here are a few tips for Stargazer flowers care:

  • Fertilize Stargazer lilies once a month from early spring until they finish flowering.
  • Whether you use a slow controlled-release fertilizer, liquid plant fertilizer, or compost, make sure you provide the right amount and follow the directions.
  • Deadhead each flower after blooming to promote more budding in the season.
  • As with most bulb plants, do not remove the leaves until they turn brown. Once they become brown, cut them.
  • Water the lilies appropriately and keep the soil moist. Do Not Overwater! Overwatering causes soggy soils and leads to bulbs rotting.
  • When Stargazer lilies bloom (Casa Blanca is a popular variety), the top part of the plant becomes very heavy and may bend. Provide support if needed using a wood or bamboo stake. Staking really makes the blooms pop out.

Things to Keep In Mind When Growing Star Gazer Lilies

  • Star lily flower pollens tend to stain clothes, skin, and anything else they touch.
  • If creating a Stargazer flower bouquet, display the flower in a vase. Removing the pollen will extend its life.
  • Stargazer lilies are poisonous to cats. Keep the two well apart.
  • The Stargazer lilies attract beetles which can damage them severely. Pick them off if you see any on the plant.
  • Stargazer lilies attract lots of butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • Keep an eye out for pests like slugs & snails, aphids (spread viruses), and red lily beetle, and control any aphid infestation. It’s also prone to gray mold.
  • They can be multiplied using bulb division in fall or early spring.

Recommended Reading

JOIN Our FREE Plant Care Newsletter 

By entering your email address you agree to receive a daily email newsletter from Plant Care Today. We'll respect your privacy and unsubscribe at any time.