Vivid Mid-Summer Color for Twin Cities Sunny Borders

Forever Susan Asiatic Lily (Lilium 'Forever Susan') is a asiatic lily hand-selected for the Twin Cities climate. Showy upward-facing trumpet flowers in June and July. Whether you're planting a shaded border in Plymouth, layering a foundation bed in Wayzata, or anchoring a perennial bed in St. Paul — Forever Susan Asiatic Lily performs reliably in zone 4b–5a yards.

Forever Susan Asiatic Lily Plant Details

Forever Susan Asiatic Lily Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Mid-summer perennial borders

Bright early-summer color in Twin Cities sunny borders.

Cutting gardens

Long-lasting, dramatic cut flowers.

Best Time to Plant Forever Susan Asiatic Lily in Minnesota

Fall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).

Spring (late April–May) is the second-best window — the plant gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.

Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.

How to Plant Forever Susan Asiatic Lily

1. Dig wide, not deep. 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Heavy clay benefits from even wider digging.
2. Check drainage. Fill the hole with water — if it doesn't drain in 30 minutes, mound-plant or break through any clay hardpan to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil + 20–30% compost. Minnesota clay-loam benefits from organic amendment but don't create a "container" of pure compost.
4. Spacing. Refer to the mature width above and space accordingly. Closer for mass plantings, wider for individual specimen plants.
5. Water basin. Build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove before winter to avoid ice damage.
6. Mulch. 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk or crown. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.

Watering Forever Susan Asiatic Lily in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes per plant)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro) to avoid pushing late-season growth that gets killed by winter

After Year One

Established plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work.

Will Asiatic Lily survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — exceptionally hardy, to zone 3.

Are Asiatic Lilies deer-resistant?

No. Deer will browse them aggressively. In high-pressure deer areas (Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie), use repellent or fencing.

You May Also Like

• Shop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards
• Deer-Resistant Plants — for high-pressure suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie
• Pollinator Garden Plants — supports the Lawns to Legumes program

How Many Forever Susan Asiatic Lily Do I Need?

Asiatic lilies grow from bulbs in upright clumps rather than spreading, so they are planted in groups, not hedge rows. Space bulbs 8–12 inches apart and plant in clusters of 5–7 for a bold mid-summer color block; a single mature clump fills roughly a 12–18 inch footprint.

Forever Susan Asiatic Lily Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Pointed shoots emerge and stems shoot up quickly through spring.
• Summer: Showy, upward-facing mahogany-and-gold trumpet flowers open in June and July, drawing butterflies and bees.
• Fall: Foliage yellows and dies back — leave it to recharge the bulb, then cut down.
• Winter: Bulbs rest dormant underground, exceptionally hardy to -40°F.

At a Glance

✔ Pollinator-Friendly

Plant It With

• Granada Gold Coneflower — gold daisies that bloom with the lilies in full sun
• Little Bluestem — native grass that masks the lilies' bare lower stems
• Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop — blue spikes that cool the lily's hot tones
• Cobalt Millenium Allium — purple globes for a sunny, bee-friendly contrast

Is Forever Susan Asiatic Lily Right for Your Yard?

Forever Susan thrives in full sun to part shade with rich, well-drained soil and consistent moisture during growth. Not a fit if you have heavy deer pressure and no protection — deer browse Asiatic lilies aggressively, so use fencing or repellent in suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie, and avoid soggy ground that rots the bulbs.