I decided to try Asiatic lily ‘Orange Cocotte’ because the flowers are much smaller (so in my book, cuter) than a regular Asiatic lily. And while this cultivar does not have the freckles I so adore on other lilies, I was really attracted to the cantaloupe-orange color of this early-summer bloomer.
In their first year in my garden, my plants were loaded with buds and bloomed for many weeks. This cultivar should grow 3 feet tall, but my plants topped out at a little over 2 feet. The stalks were very sturdy and I didn’t have to stake them.
I inadvertently planted ‘Orange Cocotte’ next to a pink phlox. I rarely mix pink and orange, but I think the color combination is kind of fun. This lily would also look great with gold daylilies or purple daylilies, salvias or veronicas.
‘Orange Cocotte’ is hardy in Zones 3-10 and blooms in late June and early July.