The term lily is used as the common name for many different plants. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria), daylily (Hemerocallis), trout lily (Erythronium), gloriosa lily (Gloriosa), calla lily (Zantedeschia), Magic lily (Lycoris), Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria), and water lily (Nymphaea) resemble lilies, but they are not true lilies.
True lilies belong to the Lilium genus of perennial bulbs known for their showy summer flowers. Lilies are cultivated worldwide for their ornamental, edible, and medicinal benefits.
There are approximately 100 species of lilies found around the globe. From these species, thousands of cultivars have been created through hybridization.
History | Lily Divisions & Types | Toxicity Concerns | More Information
History
Lilies have been cultivated for centuries. Depending on color, they have been used as symbols of love, affection, happiness, innocence, mourning, and renewal. The Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) bulb was cultivated for use in medicinal ointments and food. Since Medieval times, the Madonna lily represented the Virgin Mary's purity. White lilies have also symbolized innocence and tranquility in many cultures. The Easter lily, commonly grown for Easter in the US, symbolizes rebirth and hope. In Taiwan, the indigenous Rukai people thought lilies symbolized bravery and perseverance.
Today, lilies are popular in cut flower displays, bridal bouquets, and funeral sprays. Their elegance, striking color, and often strong fragrance make them excellent choices for any floral arrangement that celebrates any occasion.
Lily Divisions
In the 1960s, lilies were organized into nine divisions by the Royal Horticultural Society and adopted by the North American Lily Society. Most lilies sold today (as bulbs/plants or as floral displays) are of hybrid origin, so the divisions are based primarily on parentage and flower shape. These divisions are accepted worldwide. The International Lily Register lists the many thousands of cultivars of lilies introduced.
Asiatic | Martagon | Candidum | American | Longiflorum | Trumpet/Aurelian | Oriental | Interdivisional | Wild Lilies
Division 1: Asiatic Hybrids
Division 1 includes the Asiatic Hybrids. These are among the first to bloom and are often considered the easiest to grow. These lilies vary greatly in height and flower color (white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, red, burgundy). Jan de Graaff originally hybridized Asiatic lilies starting in the 1940s.
Large, brightly colored, upward-facing flowers on hardy, disease-free plants were the goal then and still stand today. Asiatic hybrids are often the first to bloom, have no scent, and are long-lived in the landscape. Asiatic lily flowers are carried in an umbel, meaning all the flower stalks originate from a single point near the center.
Some popular cultivars include:
| Cultivar | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Event | 3-4 | Peach petals overlaid heavily with burgundy spots and speckles | Upward or outward-facing flowers |
| Forever Susan | 2-3 | Burgundy petals with orange edge and center | Upward or outward-facing flowers |
| Perfect Joy | 2-3 | White centers with bright pink tips | Small dark spots in the center of the flowers |
| Pink Flight | 2-4 | Coral-pink | Outward facing with slightly recurved petals |
Division 2: Martagon Hybrids
Martagon hybrids encompass Division 2, where one parent is Lilium martagon or Lilium hansonii. Flowers are nodding, and tepals are reflexed back, giving the appearance of a "Turk's cap" or turban.
Flowers range in colors (yellow, white, pink, lavender, orange, and dark red) and are sometimes scented (though some people consider the fragrance revolting).
Some common cultivars include:
| Cultivar | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Shride | 3-4 | Dark mahogany-red flowers | Nodding/pendent flowers with reflexed petals |
| Fair Morning | 3-4 | Pink-peach flowers with garnet spots | Nodding/pendant flowers with recurved petals |
| Guinea Gold | 3-5 | Gold-bronze flowers with brown spots | Nodding/pendant flowers with recurved petals |
| Sunny Morning | 3-4 | Yellow flowers with dark red spots | Nodding/pendent flowers with reflexed petals |
Division 3: Candidum Hybrids
Division 3 of the Candidum hybrids are bred from the European species, including L. candidum and Lilium chalcedonicum. They often have Turk's cap flowers and can be highly fragrant. They are not widely available, however.
Division 4: American Hybrids
Division 4 is considered the American hybrids. It includes hybrids derived from species native to North America (note the actual American species are grouped into division 9). Flowers can be funnel-shaped or Turk's cap-shaped and are occasionally scented. The Bellingham hybrids were popular in the 1950s and would be included in this group.
Division 5: Longiflorum Hybrids
Easter lily is a popular example of the Longiflorum hybrids or Division 5. Hybrids from Lilium longiflorum and Lilium formosanum are included in this group. Flowers tend to be trumpet- or funnel-shaped and sweetly scented. Easter lilies grown in greenhouses for the Easter holiday can be planted outside in May. After planting outdoors, they will bloom in mid-late summer.
Division 6: Trumpet/Aurelian Hybrids
Trumpet/Aurelian Hybrids comprise Division 6. Hybrids with Lilium henryi and Lilium regale are included in this group. Flowers are often highly fragrant with trumpet, bowl, or recurved petals.
A few popular landscape cultivars include:
| Cultivar | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Queen | 5-6 | Apricot-peach inside with bronze outside | Outward or downward facing flower; fragrant |
| Beijing Moon | 4-7 | Pale pink with yellow centers inside; rosy-lavender outside | Outward-facing flowers; fragrant; no spots |
| Eastern Moon | 4-6 | Yellow and pal pink inside and raspberry pink outside | Outward or downward facing flower; fragrant; no spots |
| Golden Splendour | 4-6 | Golden-yellow inside with coppery-maroon outside | Fragrant; no spots |
Division 7: Oriental Hybrids
Oriental hybrids comprise Division 7. Leslie Woodriff struck gold when 'Star Gazer' appeared in the progeny of his hybridization work. Leslie was breeding species lilies to create large, upward-facing flowers instead of the nodding or pendent flowers common to some oriental species. With 'Star Gazer,' he succeeded with large upward-facing flowers, a striking color combination of fuchsia pink with a white edge, and a strong heady fragrance. It has become one of the most recognized cut flowers and landscape plants.
This division is derived from one of several species (L. auratum, L. japonicum, L. rubellum, and L. speciosum). Flowers are often sweetly scented and can be trumpet, bowl, recurved, or flat.
A few common cultivars include:
| Cultivar | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Smile | 3-4 | White with burgundy stripe and spots and yellow centers | Fragrant; |
| Casa Blanca | 3-4 | Pure white | fragrant |
| Dizzy | 3-4 | White flowers with raspberry stripes and spots | |
| Muscadet | 1-2 | White with pink stripes and spots | Compact plants |
| Roselily Viola | 2-3 | Shell pink petals with dark spots; double flowers | Fragrant |
| Stargazer | 3-4 | Rose-red with white edge | fragrant |
| Sorbonne | 3-5 | Pink with white edges | Fragrant; Spots in the center |
Division 8: Interdivisional Hybrids
Division 8 holds Interdivisional hybrids like the LA hybrids (L. longiflorum and Asiatic lilies are parents) or the OT hybrids (sometimes called "orienpets" crosses made from Oriental lilies and Trumpet/Aurelian lilies) or AOA hybrids (Asiatic and Oriental lilies as parents).
Those lilies that don't fit neatly into one of the other divisions are often included here.
A few popular OT, AOA, and LA cultivars include:
| Oriental/Trumpet (OT) | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarossi | 3-5 | Fuchsia pink centers with lighter pink petal tips | |
| Black Beauty | 3-4 | Raspberry with white edge | Recurved/reflexed petals; |
| Conca D'Or | 4-5 | Creamy-lemon yellow flowers | Outward-facing flowers; no spots |
| Pretty Woman | 3-5 | Pale pink tips with soft yellow-green centers | No spots |
| Purple Prince | 6-8 | Purple petals with green centers | Fragrant; No spots |
| Robina | 4-6 | Raspberry pink petals with white center | Outward-facing flowers; fragrant; no spots |
| Saltarello | 5-7 | Peachy yellow petals; no spots | Fragrant |
| Touchstone | 6-8 | Purple-red with yellow center | Fragrant; few spots |
| Asiatic/Oriental (AOA) | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Sunset | Red-orange center with creamy-yellow tips | Pollen free | |
| Hotel California | 4-5 | Yellow-gold with dark red center and dark spots | Fragrant |
| Viva la Vida | 4-5 | Yellow with dark red stripes and spots | Fragrant |
| Loniflorum/Asiatic (LA) | Height | Flower Color | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackout | 2-3 | Dark, carmine red with burgundy centers | |
| Connecticut King | Buttercup yellow flowers; no spots | Non fragrant flowers | |
| Mando | 4 | Dark pink without spots | Fragrant |
| Poker Face | 3-4 | Dark red flowers with few spots | Slightly fragrant |
| Royal Sunset | 4 | Golden centers with pink-red petal edges | Fragrant; dark spots in the center; upward-facing flowers |
Division 9: Wild Lilies
Division 9 lilies are the Wild lilies or species lilies native to North America, Europe, and Asia. This division includes all the naturally occurring forms, subspecies, or species around the globe. Because there is such diversity in lily species, this division contains a highly variable group of flowers, scents, and habits.
Edible or Toxic?
The lily bulbs of several Asian species are considered edible root vegetables and are used in soups, stews, stir-fries, and as a type of starch. However, only selected species are used for culinary purposes, as several species are considered too bitter for consumption. North American indigenous peoples ate only a few American species (Lilium columbianum and Lilium pardalinum). They cooked them in earth ovens or used them for flavoring meat or fish in soups. Several lily species are used for medicinal purposes and cosmetics, especially in Asian cultures.
While some species are edible for humans, almost all lilies are considered toxic to cats, especially the Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum). Other species closely related to lilies (daylily, amaryllis, etc.) are potentially toxic to cats.
More Information
- Growing Garden Lilies (PDF)
- Selection and Care of the Easter Lily
- Lily Leaf Beetle
- Flowers and Their Meanings: The Language of Flowers
References
- Potential Application of Lilium Plants in Cosmetics
- Fitzgerald, Kevin T. (2010). "Lily Toxicity in the Cat". Topics in Companion Animal Medicine. 25 (4): 213–217.
- Wipikedia on Lilium.
- Lilies: A guide for Growers and Collectors. 1998. E.A. McRae. Timber Press, Oregon.
- Lilies: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden. 2021.Naomi Slade. Gibbs Smith
Photo credits: Cindy Haynes