Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily
Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily
Vivid Mid-Summer Color for Twin Cities Sunny Borders
Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily (Lilium 'Lily Looks Tiny Bee') 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 Burnsville, layering a foundation bed in St. Paul, or anchoring a perennial bed in Eden Prairie — Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily performs reliably in zone 4b–5a yards.
Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lilium 'Lily Looks Tiny Bee' |
| Common Names | Asiatic Lily |
| Mature Height | 2–4 feet |
| Mature Width | 12–18 inches |
| Growth Rate | Fast — full bloom 2nd year from bulb |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade. |
| Water | Average. Provide consistent moisture during active growth. |
| USDA Zones | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) |
| Soil | Rich, well-drained, organic soil. |
| Foliage | Upright stems with narrow whorled leaves. |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F. Excellent winter hardiness. |
| Deer Resistance | Not deer-resistant — deer love lilies. Protect young plants in high-pressure areas. |
| Bloom | Showy upward-facing trumpet flowers in June and July. |
| Deer Warning | Asiatic lilies are deer candy — fence or repellent required in suburbs with deer pressure |
Lily Looks Tiny Bee 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 Lily Looks Tiny Bee 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 Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily
- Dig wide, not deep. 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Heavy clay benefits from even wider digging.
- 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.
- Backfill with native soil + 20–30% compost. Minnesota clay-loam benefits from organic amendment but don't create a "container" of pure compost.
- Spacing. Refer to the mature width above and space accordingly. Closer for mass plantings, wider for individual specimen plants.
- 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.
- 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 Lily Looks Tiny Bee 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 Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily Do I Need?
Asiatic lilies look best planted in tight clusters — space them about 12 inches apart.
| Bed run | Plants needed (12 in. apart) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft. | 5 |
| 10 ft. | 10 |
| 15 ft. | 15 |
| 20 ft. | 20 |
For real impact, plant in groups of 5–7 so the upward-facing trumpets read as a bold patch of color.
Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Upright stems with narrow whorled leaves push up from the bulb.
- Summer: Showy, upward-facing trumpet flowers open in June and July — striking in the border and the vase.
- Fall: Foliage yellows and dies back; leave stems until they brown, then cut down.
- Winter: The bulb goes fully dormant and is exceptionally hardy, to about -40°F.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly
Plant It With
- Kismet Red Coneflower — a sun-loving coneflower that carries color after the lilies finish
- Moonshine Yarrow — flat gold heads and ferny foliage for a sunny border partner
- Blue Fortune Hyssop — cool blue spikes that contrast the warm lily trumpets
- Little Bluestem — a native grass for airy texture between the upright stems
Is Lily Looks Tiny Bee Asiatic Lily Right for Your Yard?
It performs in full sun to part shade with rich, well-drained soil and is exceptionally winter-hardy. The honest caveat: Asiatic lilies are deer candy — not a fit for an unfenced yard under deer pressure (Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie) unless you commit to repellent or fencing.