Marcus Hendricks

Care Guide Contributor

I've spent the last 15 years experimenting with lilies across three different climates—first in zone 5, then zone 8, and now back in zone 6. What started as a curiosity about why my calla lilies wouldn't survive outdoors became an obsession with understanding the specific needs of each lily type. I grow over 30 lily varieties in my backyard garden and greenhouse, from fragrant Asiatics to temperamental water lilies in a repurposed stock tank. My greatest joy is helping fellow gardeners figure out which lilies will actually thrive in their specific conditions rather than suffer through trial and error like I did. I share my real successes and failures here—nothing polished, just practical growing knowledge from someone who's killed plenty of lilies along the way.