I planted several oriental lilies in containers this spring because I ran out of room in the yard. They were 3 gallon nursery containers and I planted 3 bulbs per container in regular potting mix. I used osmocote type slow release fertilizer, suplemented a couple times w/ water soluble fertilzer when I thought of it. They grew and bloomed beautifully. It was really nice that I could move the containers around and really enjoy the fragrance. The down side is that lilies are only in bloom for 2 weeks, and yet you need to care for them all season. I don't think they would combine well with other plants because after they flower the foliage isn't very attractive. And yet, I still think they're definitely worth the time and trouble to get those 2 weeks of heavenly bloom.

Bonbon, I'll echo MizJoy...except to say that the 2 weeks of heavenly bloom weren't worth it, in my opinion. (Perhaps because I have a very small balcony, and have to be ruthless.) So my Mona Lisas, which I planted last fall and which worked just fine in a container, will be dug up soon and donated to a friend's garden. Instead I'll try day lilies.

I'm glad you ordered Mona Lisa. I have had Mona Lisa bulbs come back year after year in the same container---and I've actually left them outside in the pots during our hardy winters in Northeast Ohio!

I continue to experiment with lilies in pots.
It's true that you only get one performance, but you can always plant other annuals in the pot to enjoy during the rest of the season.

My biggest problem is overwintering. I've lost some by leaving them in the garage during the winter (in their pots)
while others survived.

I know I should take them out and repot them, but I'm too lazy. I am going to to try and store some in my attic this year. I am guessing the trick is to keep them cool, but not to let them freeze. I hope my attic works. I am buying all
white fragrant lillies for next summer.

Does anyone else attempt to overwinter their bulbs in the pots?

Last year we grew orientals in whiskey barrels. I had planted about 8-9 in each of five barrels. They were a mix I had mail ordered (great deal). They were wonderfully scented and between the different varieties, they bloomed for a long, long time. I left them out in the barrels for the winter, covered with black plastic and surrounded by bags of leaves. Only a few came up to bloom this year, a few babies came up too. For us they were worth it. If we had known so few would come back, we probably would have bought some more. But I dug in and checked them, they looked like they would all come back, guess they rotted or froze.

This is a bit off topic, but if you are doing lilies, and you have cats, MAKE SURE THE KITTIES DON'T HAVE CONTACT WITH THE LILIES!! I love lilies, and when I read an article that a cat brushed against the pollen of a stargazer lily, and later licked it's fur, it died! I love kitties too, so I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention just in case. :o)

Jessica

One of my oriental lillies that came back now has a heavenly blue morning glory growing on it. I think the foliage of the lillies stays pretty nice all summer. If we go with the lillies again next year, I'll plant some morning glories in with them again. I grew some blue picotee MGs that would be nice to grow up the lillies.