Home > The Majestic Lily: A Complete Guide to Its History, Care, and Symbolism

A Complete Guide to Lilies

Everything you wanted to know about true lilies, from planting bulbs and squishing beetles to their starring roles in myths and medicine.
Disclaimer: The images on this site are visual tributes to the wonder of flowers, part science, part art. Some are digitally created interpretations meant to evoke their essence, not document them literally.

So, you think you know lilies? These flowers are more than just a pretty face in a vase. This guide is all about "true lilies", the ones from the genus Lilium , and not their impostor namesakes like daylilies, water lilies, or lilies-of-the-valley. 3 We'll cover their history, how to grow 'em, and what they've meant to people for ages.

A colorful collection of various true lilies, including Asiatic and Oriental types, showcasing their diverse shapes and colors.

What's a "True" Lily, Anyway?

The lily's name is old... like, really old. The English "lily" comes from the Latin lilium , which the Romans got from the Greek leírion . 5 That word might have come from an ancient Egyptian term that just meant "flower". 3 The name "Lilly" (with two Ls) is a popular proper name, inspired by the flower. 9

To be a true lily, a plant has to belong to the genus Lilium . 4 They grow from a special kind of bulb made of fleshy, overlapping scales with no protective skin, kind of like a tiny head of garlic. 4 From this bulb, a single, unbranched stem shoots up, growing anywhere from one to six feet tall. 4

An educational diagram illustrating the anatomy of a true lily, pointing to the scaly bulb, stem, tepals, and stamens with anthers.

The flower has six "tepals" (that's what you call petals and sepals when they look the same). 4 Right in the middle, you'll see six long stamens, each tipped with an anther that's usually loaded with colorful pollen. 13 A scaly bulb, six tepals, six stamens, that's the real deal.

True Lily Checklist: A plant must have three key features to be in the Lilium genus: a scaly bulb with no protective skin, a flower with six tepals, and six prominent stamens.

From Bulb to Bloom

A lily's life starts underground with the bulb, which is basically a packed lunch of nutrients that waits out the winter. 4 When the soil warms up in spring, the bulb wakes up, sending down roots and pushing a shoot up toward the sun. 14 That shoot becomes the stem, sprouting long, narrow leaves as it grows. 4

An infographic showing the annual life cycle of a lily, from dormant bulb in winter, to sprouting stem in spring, to blooming flower in summer, and the plant dying back in fall to recharge the bulb.

Flower buds form at the top of the stem. When they finally open, it's quite a show, the six tepals peeling back to reveal patterns and spots inside. 4 After pollination by bees or butterflies, the flower's base swells into a three-celled seed capsule. 4

After the flower fades, the most important work begins. You have to leave the stem and leaves alone. They spend the rest of the season soaking up sunlight and sending energy back down to recharge the bulb for next year. 14 This cycle of dying back and returning in the spring is why the lily is a big symbol of resurrection and renewal. 2

A Rainbow of Lilies

The Lilium genus is huge, with thousands of varieties created by plant breeders over the years. 18 They're usually grouped into different types, or divisions, that bloom at different times during the summer. 19

Asiatic Hybrids

Asiatics are the first to show up to the summer party. They're tough, easy to grow, and great for beginners. 15 They come in a rainbow of bright colors, whites, yellows, oranges, reds, but they usually don't have a scent. 20 Their flowers tend to face upward, making them a nice pop of color in the garden.

A vibrant garden bed filled with upward-facing Asiatic hybrid lilies in a mix of bright yellow, orange, and red.

Oriental Hybrids

These are the drama queens of the lily world, blooming in mid to late summer. Their flowers are huge, showy, and have a strong, spicy fragrance you can smell across the yard. 15 The most famous is the 'Stargazer' lily, with its upward-facing, crimson-pink flowers edged in white. 13 Its amazing scent and strong stems made it an instant classic. 22

A stunning close-up of a pink 'Stargazer' lily, an Oriental hybrid known for its large, fragrant bloom and white-edged petals.

Trumpet and Aurelian Lilies

These are the giants of the garden, sometimes growing over six feet tall (you might need to stake them). 20 They have large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are incredibly fragrant, especially in the evening. 15 They bloom mid-season in shades of white, cream, yellow, and pink. 18

Tall, majestic Trumpet lilies with their large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers towering in a summer garden.

Famous Species

The Easter Lily ( Lilium longiflorum ) is famous for its holiday connection, but it's naturally a summer-blooming flower. 25 Growers "force" them to bloom early by giving them a strict schedule of temperature and light, including a six-week cold nap to trick them into thinking winter is over. 26 Another icon is the Tiger Lily ( Lilium lancifolium ), known for its bright orange, black-spotted flowers with petals that curl way back. 29 It makes tiny black bulbs, called bulbils, along its stem, which drop off and grow into new plants. 30

A bright orange Tiger Lily with characteristic black spots and curled-back petals, with small black bulbils visible on the stem.

Where in the World?

Lilies are world travelers, but only in the top half (the Northern Hemisphere), mostly in areas with proper seasons. 32 They aren't native to the tropics because they need a cold winter to reset their blooming clock, a process called vernalization. 15 This is why they can be tricky to grow in places that are warm all year round.

About 30 species are native to North America, living in meadows and at the edges of forests. 1 Europe has about 10 native species, often found in the mountains. 32 But the real lily hotspot is Asia, with around 70 native species, from the Himalayas to the islands of Japan. 32

A map of the world focused on the Northern Hemisphere, with regions where lilies are native—North America, Europe, and Asia—highlighted.

How to Grow Lilies (and Keep Them Alive)

Important Safety Warning: All parts of a true lily—petals, leaves, stem, and even the pollen—are extremely toxic to cats . Ingesting even a small amount can cause fatal kidney failure. If you have cats, it is safest not to have lilies in your home or garden.

Growing lilies successfully comes down to one main rule. Lilies hate wet feet. Good drainage is a must, or the bulbs will rot. 4

Getting Started

Plant bulbs in the fall, a few weeks before the ground freezes, to give them time to grow some roots. 15 Dig a hole about three times as deep as the bulb is tall, usually 6 to 8 inches down. 14 This deep planting helps hold the tall stems steady and keeps the bulb cool. Space them 8 to 18 inches apart so air can move around them. 34

Planting Pro Tip: Planting lily bulbs deep (6-8 inches) is key. It anchors the tall stems against wind and keeps the bulb cool during hot summer months, leading to a healthier plant.

Sun, Water, and Food

Lilies like their "heads in the sun and feet in the shade." 14 This just means they need at least six hours of sun on their leaves, but their roots and bulb should be kept cool. You can do this by putting mulch around the base of the plant or growing some short plants nearby to shade the ground. 14

The Gardener's Mantra: Remember the golden rule for happy lilies: "Heads in the sun, feet in the shade." This means full sun for the foliage and cool, shaded soil for the roots.

During spring and summer, give them about an inch of water a week if it doesn't rain. 15 After they're done blooming, cut back on the water. 14 A sprinkle of balanced, slow-release fertilizer when they start growing in the spring is all they need to eat. 35

Pest Patrol

The number one enemy of the lily is the red lily leaf beetle. These bright red bugs can destroy your plants fast. The best defense is to check your plants often, starting in early spring. 37

A macro photograph showing a bright red lily leaf beetle on a green lily leaf, making it easy to identify this common garden pest.

Look for the adult beetles, their slimy black larvae, and rows of tiny orange eggs on the undersides of leaves. The easiest way to deal with them is to pick them off (adults and larvae) and drop them in a jar of soapy water. Just squish the egg clusters with your fingers to stop the next generation. 37

What Do They Mean?

The lily is packed with meaning, which is why you see the same flower at weddings and funerals. It symbolizes the purity in both a new beginning and a peaceful end. 17

The White Lily: Purity and Gods

In Christianity, the white lily is the ultimate symbol of purity and is tied to the Virgin Mary. 17 Old paintings often show the Archangel Gabriel handing Mary a white lily. 41 At Easter, it represents the resurrection of Christ and new life. 2

An elegant, pure white Madonna lily, a symbol of purity and virtue often depicted in religious and historical art.

The ancient Greeks had a different story. They believed the first lilies grew from drops of milk from Hera, the queen of the gods. 43 This myth connected the flower to motherhood and rebirth, a meaning that has stuck around. 46

Lilies for Big Moments

At weddings, lilies represent the purity of the marriage; Greek brides even wore crowns of lilies and wheat for a pure and fertile life. 2 At funerals, they suggest that the soul has returned to a state of peace and innocence. 48

Different colors have different meanings, too. Pink lilies mean admiration and abundance. 50 Red lilies suggest deep love and passion. 51 Orange ones symbolize confidence and energy, while yellow lilies stand for friendship and joy. 50

More Than Just a Pretty Flower

While many people just look at lilies, some cultures eat them and use them as medicine. 54 It shows a different way of appreciating the same plant.

Lilies as Food

In China and Japan, the bulbs of some lilies are a popular vegetable. 56 Known as yurine in Japan or Bai He in China, the starchy scales have a sweet, slightly bitter taste, a bit like a potato or a water chestnut. 54 They're used in stir-fries, soups, and stews. 58 The Tiger Lily has been grown as a food crop in Asia for thousands of years. 29

A delicious-looking Asian stir-fry dish in a wok, with slices of lily bulb (yurine) mixed with other fresh vegetables.

Lilies as Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dried lily bulb ( Bai He ) has been used for centuries for its cooling properties. 60 It's a common remedy for dry coughs and sore throats. 55 It's also used to calm the mind, helping with things like insomnia and irritability. 61

Lilies in a Bottle

The lily's uses have also found their way into cosmetics and perfume. Madonna Lily extract is used in skincare products for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects. 63 It's great for calming irritated skin. 63 The flower's sweet, heady scent is also a prized ingredient in high-end perfumes. 65

Works cited

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