August is the high season for the latest-flowering divisions of the lily world, since the earlier Asiatic types have typically finished their show by early July, leaving Oriental, Trumpet, and interdivisional hybrids to carry the garden through the final weeks of summer. Most August-blooming lilies belong to the Oriental, Trumpet and Aurelian, or Orienpet divisions, all of which naturally flower later in the season than Asiatic hybrids, generally opening from mid-July through September depending on climate and planting depth. These late-season types also tend to be the largest and most fragrant lilies available, with individual blooms often measuring 6 to 10 inches across and stems reaching 4 to 8 feet tall.
The later bloom time of these divisions comes down largely to genetics and native range, since many of the parent species behind Oriental and Trumpet hybrids originate from regions of China and Japan where the natural growing season favors a longer period of vegetative growth before flowering begins. A single August-blooming stem can produce anywhere from 6 to over 30 flowers depending on the cultivar, with the tallest Orienpet types, sometimes called tree lilies, producing the most dramatic flower counts by their second or third growing season. Fragrance is especially pronounced among this group, with many Oriental and Trumpet types capable of scenting an entire yard on a warm August evening.
Gardeners hoping to extend color into late summer often plant August-blooming lilies alongside earlier Asiatic types specifically to stagger the bloom sequence, since a well-planned lily bed can provide continuous flowering from late May through September. Bulbs for these later divisions are typically planted at the same 6 to 10 inch depth as other lilies, and most types are hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9, though a handful of the more tender Trumpet hybrids benefit from a heavier mulch layer in colder regions. As cut flowers, August-blooming lilies are especially prized, since their long vase life of 7 to 14 days makes them a natural choice for late-summer weddings and events.
Because these late-season types tend to be the showiest and most fragrant in the entire genus, they’re frequently the stars of local lily society shows held in August across much of North America. Watering consistency becomes especially important during their bloom period, since the heat of late summer can shorten flower life if the soil is allowed to dry out completely between waterings. Whether planted for a dramatic late-summer border, a fragrant evening garden, or a final round of cut flowers before fall, the following 24 types represent some of the most reliable August bloomers available to gardeners.
Lilies That Bloom In August
Casablanca
Casablanca is widely regarded as the finest white Oriental lily ever bred, producing large, bowl-shaped blooms up to 8 to 9 inches across that typically reach peak bloom in late July through August. A single stem carries 6 to 8 fragrant blossoms on plants reaching 3 to 4 feet tall, filling an entire garden with a heavy, sweet scent that becomes especially noticeable during warm August evenings.
Stargazer
Stargazer is one of the most recognizable pink Oriental lilies in cultivation, typically flowering from late July into August on stems averaging 3 to 4 feet tall. Its bowl-shaped, crimson-pink blooms with white margins and red freckling produce a strong, sweet-spicy fragrance, with each stem carrying 4 to 12 flowers that make it a favorite for August cutting gardens.
Journey’s End
Journey’s End is a well-known Oriental cultivar with rich pink, outward-facing blooms that reach full flower in mid to late August, later than many other Oriental types. Reaching 3 to 4 feet tall with a strong, classic lily fragrance, it has remained a popular choice among commercial cut flower growers specifically for its dependable late-summer bloom timing.
Sorbonne
Sorbonne is one of the most widely grown Oriental cultivars in the global cut flower trade, producing large, rich pink blooms that typically open in early to mid-August on stems reaching 2 to 3 feet tall. Its relatively compact height compared to other Oriental types makes it a popular choice for both garden borders and commercial greenhouse production timed for late-summer harvest.
Muscadet
Muscadet features pale pink petals brushed with deeper pink freckling, typically reaching full bloom in August on sturdy stems 3 to 4 feet tall. Its soft, understated coloring and reliable August performance have made it a favorite for both garden beds and cutting gardens, where its subtle freckled texture adds visual interest late in the season.
Black Beauty
Black Beauty is a dramatic Oriental hybrid with deep, dark purple to near-black recurved petals that typically reach peak bloom in August, later than most other Oriental types. It can reach 5 to 7 feet tall once established and carries a strong fragrance, with its late timing making it one of the last dramatic blooms of the lily season.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is an elegant Oriental cultivar producing 5 to 10 lavender-purple blooms per stem, each averaging 8 inches wide, typically flowering from late July through August. Its sweet, light fragrance combined with a long vase life makes Marco Polo a popular choice for late-summer cutting gardens.
Tom Pouce
Tom Pouce, named after a Dutch pastry, is an Oriental cultivar producing fragrant, star-shaped blooms over 8 inches wide that typically open in mid to late August, later than most other divisions. Its long-lasting flowers make it a popular choice for extending the lily season well into the final weeks of summer.
Souvenir
Souvenir is an Oriental cultivar with enormous, bowl-shaped blooms reaching up to 6 inches wide, featuring white petal bases blending into soft lavender tips, typically flowering in August on compact stems well suited to containers. Its relatively diminutive size and reliable late-summer bloom make it a favorite for smaller August gardens.
African Queen
African Queen is a celebrated Trumpet division cultivar with huge, tubular apricot-orange blooms that typically reach peak flower in late July through August. A single stem can produce up to 20 fragrant blossoms on plants reaching 6 feet tall, making it one of the most dramatic August-blooming Trumpet types available.
Golden Splendor
Golden Splendor is a celebrated Trumpet division cultivar with deep golden, outward-facing blooms measuring 6 to 8 inches long that typically open in late July into August. Once established, a single stem can produce 12 to 20 blooms in a season, reaching 4 to 6 feet tall with a strong, sweet fragrance well suited to late-summer evenings.
Copper King
Copper King is an Aurelian hybrid with warm, coppery-gold blooms that typically flower in mid to late August, later than most other Trumpet types. Reaching 4 to 6 feet tall with a rich fragrance, its later bloom timing makes it a valuable addition for extending color at the tail end of the Trumpet lily season.
Scheherazade
Scheherazade is a towering Orienpet hybrid, often nicknamed a “Tree Lily” for its imposing 7-foot height, typically reaching peak bloom in August. A single mature plant can produce up to 40 raspberry-red, down-facing flowers, creating an overwhelming floral display that makes it one of the most dramatic August specimens in the entire genus.
Silk Road
Silk Road is a giant Orienpet hybrid with creamy white exteriors and a bold crimson throat, typically flowering from late July through August with an unusually long bloom time. A second wave of bulbs often opens just as the first round of flowers begins to fade, extending its August display by several additional weeks.
Purple Prince
Purple Prince is a massive Oriental-Trumpet hybrid reaching 6 to 8 feet at full maturity, typically flowering in August with upward-facing blooms measuring 8 inches wide in a rich grape color. Each mature plant can produce 20 to 30 blossoms during its August bloom window, making it one of the showiest late-summer specimens available.
Purple Lady
Purple Lady is a towering Oriental-Trumpet hybrid capable of reaching up to 8 feet tall, typically reaching peak bloom in August with massive 8-inch blooms in a stunning purple-pink shade. Its powerful fragrance and bushy garden presence make it a striking late-summer choice for the rear of a mixed border.
Montreux
Montreux is a red-toned Orienpet hybrid that typically blooms in August, combining the heat tolerance and vigor of Trumpet lilies with the fragrance and flower size of Oriental types. Reaching 4 to 5 feet tall, it holds up especially well in the humid, high-temperature conditions common during August in much of the country.
Beverly Dream
Beverly Dream is an Orienpet hybrid with crimson-red petals accented by white, typically flowering from late July into August on stems reaching 4 to 5 feet tall. With 8 to 12 spicy-sweet scented blooms per stem, its August bloom window coincides with peak garden fragrance in many climates.
Miss Peculiar
Miss Peculiar is a jumbo Oriental Trumpet hybrid with creamy white petals brightened by golden-yellow stars, typically reaching peak bloom in August with flowers that can measure up to a foot wide. Reaching 4 to 5 feet tall, it stands out as one of the largest-flowered August bloomers in the entire lily category.
Henry’s Lily
Henry’s Lily is a vigorous species native to China, typically flowering in late August, later than most other species lilies. Producing bright orange, strongly recurved blooms with dark speckling on stems that can reach 6 to 8 feet, its late timing makes it a valuable addition for extending the species lily season into early fall.
Tiger Lily
Tiger Lily typically reaches peak bloom in late summer, with many plantings flowering heavily through August. Its bowl-shaped, strongly recurved orange blooms covered in dark mahogany speckling appear on plants reaching 3 to 5 feet tall, giving an old-fashioned, naturalized charm to the August garden.
Formosa Lily
Formosa Lily is a tall, exotic species native to Taiwan, typically flowering from late summer into August on stems that can reach 4 to 6 feet. Its large, trumpet-shaped white blooms with a light fragrance make it a striking late-season addition, and it tends to self-seed readily, often naturalizing into colonies over a few growing seasons.
American Turk’s Cap Lily
American Turk’s Cap Lily, also called the Swamp Lily, typically reaches peak bloom in August in the damp, partially shaded conditions it favors. Producing large, deep orange blooms with dark spotting, it can produce up to 50 nodding blooms on a single mature stem, making it one of the most floriferous August-blooming native species.
Goldband Lily
Goldband Lily, sometimes called the Golden Rayed Lily, typically flowers in August, combining a predominantly white bloom with a bold golden stripe down the center of each petal. Blooms can reach 8 to 10 inches across, among the largest of any lily species, held on stems 3 to 5 feet tall with a heavy fragrance well suited to a late-summer evening garden.