Flower Talk: What exactly is an OT Hybrid Lily (and what can it offer you)?

Did you know there are over 110 different species of the lily family? In fact, new varieties and hybrids are constantly under development. One very special mix, the OT Hybrid (also called an Orienpet), has been making quite the name for itself, and demand for this particular flora keeps climbing higher and higher.

The satin-hued and aptly named Fall OT Hybrid, Yelloween

So what exactly is an OT Hybrid Lily and what can it offer you?

An OT Hybrid is a breed created by crossing Oriental and Trumpet lily types. These hybrids were originally developed to bring a more diverse color palette to traditional Oriental lilies. Before OT Hybrids, all Oriental lilies were white or pink, but these new OTs capture the wonderfully warm reds, oranges, and yellows of Trumpet lilies, with the shape, durability, and longevity of an Oriental. These flowers maintain a delicate citrus-green scent, which is pleasantly light and not as powerful like some of their more aromatic sisters.

Creamy, apricot-hued Eudoxia

The "Sonata" Sun Valley Brand

Sun Valley brands its OT Hybrids as "Sonata Lilies" and we've been growing these pretty things for over a decade. We've spent the last 13 years perfecting our lighting, temperature control, as well as our planting density in order to get the best bud count possible. By adjusting how many bulbs we plant per square foot of soil, we can grow our Sonatas with a healthy balance of bud size and bud count. This has given us amazing results, with noteworthy bloom sizes. Their size goes hand in hand with thick petals, saturated colors, and subsequent long vase life.

Lane's Favorite Sonata, and a recent addition, African Lady

Growing Great Lilies

In order to grow quality Sonata lilies, we ensure the plants get sufficient heat and light throughout the entire growing cycle. Sonatas require at least 16 hours of light a day! This kind of light is easy to come by during the summertime, but how do we maintain their needs through the winter and falls seasons? Well, as the days get shorter, our greenhouse lighting system comes into play. These timed lights adjust to the sunrise and sunset, allowing for maximum light without wasting electricity by "doubling up." Plenty of sunshine is what helps to form Sonatas' thick, sturdy stems--which is especially crucial since the flower blooms are so large.

The steady use of lighting helps us keep to our year-round, 16-week growing cycle. Every farmer's goal is consistency. The more consistent and on-point our growing practices are, the more consistent our quality can continue to be.

Sonata OT Hybrid Lilies growing in greenhouse

Our Northwestern Climate does its part as well. With an average yearly temperature between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, our cool (but not cold) evenings are essential for saturated colors in the petals. The coastal cloud cover helps to diffuse the sun, providing an even light level, which these lilies love.

The demand for the colorful array of our Sonata lilies is large, and getting larger, so to meet the growing demand we have increased our Sonata program by 40% this year. And while we do grow them year-round, we're picking up the pace through November to provide you with some beautiful Sonatas to color your fall bouquets.

Tollo Cream Yellow OT Hybrid Sonata Lily

Creamy Colored Tollo

Two of the original Sonatas were Yelloween and Shocking--these two have proven to be tried-and-true varieties and we STILL offer these powerhouses of color, one decade later. Not only that, there are an array of varieties which circle back to the traditional Oriental palate, with pink and purple tones such as Table Dance, Timezone, and Candy Club.