Hi minflick, I don't have many asiatics, but I have a number of orientals and trumpets. leaf placement isn't that different between Oriental hybrids and Asiatic hybrids. Asiatic leaves tend to be more slender, though not as "grass-like" as the trumpets. The best way to tell Orientals and Asiatics apart is by their blooms. The most dramatic difference will be bloom time and fragrance. Asiatics are the earliest blooming lilies and are blooming now in my zone, (in your zone they may be already finished ). Orientals don't bloom until July-August. Orientals have a strong "spicy" fragrance while the great majority of Asiatics have no fragrance at all. (There are some new hybrids with a very light fragrance - not likely to be found in a bin.) They also differ in the shape of their blooms and their arrangement on the stem. Both blooms have a overall bowl shape with a little recurve to the petals, but Oriental lilies have a "ruffled edge" and Asiatics a smooth edge on their petals. Oriental blooms are carried sequentially along the stem, Asiatic blooms all come from the tip of the stem in an "upside down umbrella shape called an "umbrel". Also, many Oriental lilies get quite tall in good garden conditions. There are a couple shorter hybrids, Mona Lisa (2') and Muscadet (2'-3') but in general 3' is small for an established oriental. Of course there are exceptions to every rule (especially among the species lilies), but the wide separation in bloom time will be the most reliable rule to use to distinguish them. As for digging them up most Oriental bulbs are a bright yellow when freshly dug (the color fades) and Trumpet bulbs are purple. I think Asiatic bulbs are white, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows that. If the flowers are the same as far as you can tell, they may all be Asiatics. -Helen

In a situation like this I think the best thing for these lilies would be for friend(s) to adopt them either temporarily or permanently until such time the owner can replant them. Don't dig the bulbs and try to store them dry like say tulips or daffodils. Lilies are never really dormant, even after the foliage has died back. The lilies need to keep their green foliage until it dies back naturally in the fall. If there aren't a huge number of them you can pot them, but not small pots. They need room. If you do pot them up, don't store out in the hot sun or the bulb will bake in the pot. I'm going through that situation now with a few I have in pots. I moved them under my pine tree so they don't bake. Whatever you decide, when you dig take as much soil with the rootball as you would with any perennial. Hope this helps.

My new favorite is Sunshine Flower Bulbs. Their catalogue is online. Because I ordered so many lily bulbs, they called me and offered to let me buy wholesale, so now I can buy everything they sell wholesale, with free shipping over $150. Everything I bought came up and bloomed beautifully. Last fall I purchased 200 Orienpets and received very large healthy bulbs at a wonderful price. Can't wait to see my lily bed in August! I'm now getting ready to order Asiatics, as they have a good sale going on. On sale are mainly the larger size bulbs, which is a very good bargain. They are new, but I highly recommend the company. I have also ordered from Gordon Wild & Sons; they have bulk pricing and I used them to get acquainted with the types of lilies and to fill up a bare spot. Their bulbs are a little small, though very healthy and a bargain.

Oh am I glad I peeked into this post. I really enjoy lilies. First I can't say enough for The Lily Garden. Judy at TLG is a peach. She talked me through the scaling process (it works!) and then talked me through hybridizing. I ordered many many lilies from her and what she does for me is amazing...she will write on the label, tetraploid, diploid or triploid, she will also indicate which plants are sterile or pod fertile and perhaps give me ideas of crossing this with that. I will always be greatful for her help and will order from them forever. (I don't work there and never been there in person. I'm only a satisfied customer). Asiatic 'Vermeer' - I have this lily in full sun, it is a light pink with a creamy eyezone. It does hold a beautiful pink color fairly well until it ages, then it does fade. My favorites are the strongly scented Orientals, Trumpets and Aurelian lilies. I love working in my gardens when these babies are blooming the sent is downright intoxicating. The oriental lilies prefer acid soil thus the problem with your bulbs petering out after a time. I use a granular fertilizer around them for azaleas, rhododendrons which has a high acidity in it allowing a better survival rate with my oriental lilies. I also like Orienpets but the fragrance is not as strong. My favorites that do so well in my gardens are: Asiatics, which bloom in June & July: Asiatic 'Red Velvet' - a beautiful red with recurved flower petals and I've seen the hummingbird constantly fly around this when in bloom. Asiatic 'Tiger Babies' - is awesome, many pinky/peachy blooms with recurved petals. It has small dots in the throat similar to the orange tiger lilies, but this one is beautiful. Asiatic 'White Lace' - you did not mention white, but this is a worthy white to own. This one towered easily at 4 feet and had the beautiful white recurved flowers with purple on the backs of the petals. Gorgeous. (Heirloom Lace is similar and just as nice..it gets a bit taller than White Lace). Asiatic 'Blackout' - this one is absolutely stunning dark black/red in color. Looks magnificent paired with my dark burgundy ninebark (Summer Wine) and a lime colored elderberry (goldenlocks). Asiatic 'Chippendale' - Ya have to get this one...if not for the name alone. ha ha. Seriously, it is a very nice bright lavender pink with recurved petals and gorgeous! Trumpets which bloom in July and August (My ultimate favorite for fragrance): Ice Caves - A beautiful white with a green throat spreading into the midribs of the lilies petals. Stunning! Copper Crown - light orange in color with purple on the back of the flowers petals. Midnight - Dark purple in color. Lady Alice - creamy white with orange bursting from the eye and out into the petals. Very striking. Black Magic - very dark purple. Orientpets which bloom in July and August: Luminaries - Cream colored with orange, yellow and green in a combination flowing through the eye and into the petals. Very complex color combination. (Quintessence, is similary to Luminaries and just as pretty) Catherine the Great - this lily was as tall as I this summer (5'7") It is a creamy white flower with a yellow eye reaching out into the petals. Scheherazade - Is a very popular one that I see in many gardens. It is a stiking white with rosy/red within the petals. The flower petals are recurved and this one blooms on forever with all it's blooms. (Anastasia & Leslie Woodriff are similar except the coloring is more rose and no red.) I better quit. I really enjoy my lilies and wouldn't be without them. Unfortunately, I am a plant collector and have way to many different perennials...not to mention these beautiful lilies. ha ha