Lilies: meaning, types and care
Big trumpets, bold perfume and a long history: lilies (Lilium) make an entrance in any room. They are also one of the few popular bunch flowers that can seriously harm a pet, so this guide covers the pretty side and the warning side.
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Order flowers nowA flower with a long past
Lilies have been grown in gardens for centuries. The Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) comes from the eastern Mediterranean and became a Christian symbol of purity, which is why white lilies appear so often in church art. The French royal emblem, the fleur-de-lis, is a stylised flower often linked to the lily or iris, and it still turns up in heraldry.
What the colours mean
- White: Purity and calm, seen at weddings and at funerals.
- Orange: Confidence and pride.
- Pink: Admiration and grace.
- Yellow: Gratitude and good cheer.
- Red: Passion and strong feeling.
Want to send flowers with lilies in them? Check the household first, because of the cat risk described below.
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View the selectionTypes you will see at the florist
- Oriental lilies: Large and heavily perfumed, with the pink 'Stargazer' and the white 'Casa Blanca' as the best known.
- Asiatic lilies: Upright, bright and mostly scentless. They flower earlier than Orientals and come in sunset shades.
- LA hybrids: A cross between Easter and Asiatic lilies, with big flowers and sturdy stems.
- Tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium): Orange, spotted and curled back, the classic cottage-garden look.
Making a bunch last
- Pick stems with a few unopened buds, so the display unfolds over several days.
- Trim the ends on an angle and strip leaves that would sit under water.
- Pinch off the orange anthers as each flower opens, as the pollen stains clothes and tablecloths.
- Use clean water, top it up and change it every couple of days, and keep the vase out of hot sun, which matters in an Australian summer.
Quick facts – lilies
| Property | Information |
|---|---|
| Cut lilies in a vase | About a week to ten days |
| Bulb planting (southern gardens) | Autumn to winter, roughly April to July |
| Garden flowering | Late spring through summer |
| Cats | Toxic (ASPCA) |
It is easy to order flowers with lilies for delivery across Australia. Our care advice has more ways to keep a bunch fresh.
Looking for something graceful to send? See what is on offer across Australia.
See lily bouquets you can send →Buying flowers online is quick. To pick a colour with meaning, see our guide to flower language.
