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Oriental Lily
Picture Source:California Cut Flower Commission
Popular Name:
Oriental Lily
Botanical Name and Pronunciation:
Lilium (LIL-ee-um)
Common Name(s):
n/a
Color(s):
white, pink, red, bicolor and sometimes speckled
Form and Size:
The stems of oriental lilies are usually 24 – 40 inches long, with cup-shaped flowers at the top. When blooms are fully open, the ends curve back out. The blooms are usually up to 8 inches in diameter with 1 – 3 blooms per stem.
Vase Life:
4 – 11 days
Availability:
year-round
Care Instructions:
Remove any leaves at the bottom of the stem, cut under water, and place in fresh water with flower food. Try to avoid flower foods high in sugar. Oriental lilies should also be treated with anti-ethylene products. Foliage can turn yellow if there is too much sugar in the vase or if exposed to low temperatures. Some markets sell an anti-yellowing solution that can help with this. Also, be aware that its pollen sheds easily and stains all it comes in contact with. Stamens can be removed to avoid stains.
History and Usage:
A member of the Liliaceae (lily) family, it originated in China and Japan. Lilies are especially nice and a good value in vase arrangements because their multiple buds and blooms open fully and beautifully over several days. Because there are so many blooms, they have quite a long vase life, sometimes lasting up to 14 days.
Points of Interest:
Oriental lilies have the familiar exotic fragrance commonly associated with lilies; however, Asiatic lilies, also used in cut flower arrangements, have no scent and may have slightly smaller blooms. If you love the look of lilies but prefer to avoid the heavy scent, ask us to make your arrangement with Asiatic lilies!
While oriental lilies are used for ornamental purposes, other members of the Liliaceae family are used for medicinal reasons or used as food. Some of the oriental lily’s relatives include asparagus, lily of the valley, daylily and hyacinth. The most popular Oriental lily variety is the stargazer lily, with white and pink variegated petals speckled with black. The scent of the stargazer is very sweet and some find it overpowering. Other common varieties include huge white Casablanca, burgundy Sumatra, and pink Sorbonne.
