Five Things You Didn’t Know About Lilies

Bold and blousy and available in a veritable rainbow of colours, the lily is one of the nation’s favourite flowers. Second only to the rose. Available in a range of forms, from dog tooth violets, to the towering giant Himalayan lily, which can reach a massive eight feet in height, there is a lily for almost every occasion. They are one of the longest-lived cut flowers around.  And many of them have the most delicious scent imaginable. But while lilies have long been perennial garden favourites, we’re willing to bet that there’s a thing or two that you don’t know about these most magnificent garden blooms.

Our Five Favourite Facts About Lilies

Not all lilies are scented

We mentioned it in the intro, but one of the reasons so many of us love the lily is because of its wonderful scent. But not all lilies are scented. So, if perfume is important to you, you need to be looking at tiger lilies and white lilies, otherwise you might be disappointed. But a lack of scent is not necessarily a bad thing. Because in a smaller room, the scent of lilies in a cut flower arrangement can be overwhelming. If you choose a different variety, you can still enjoy the splendour without overwhelming your senses.

Lilies can be used medicinally

Although lilies are highly poisonous to cats, dogs, and a number of other animals (so we never recommend them in arrangements for pet owners), they are not toxic to humans. In some cultures, they are cultivated for medicinal purposes. Some dried lilies can work as a diuretic or laxative, others can be used to treat inflammation. In Korea and China, certain edible bulbs are also cultivated for consumption. Although, it goes without saying that you should never eat lilies – or anything else – unless you know exactly what you are working with.

Lilies symbolise different things in different cultures

We’ve often written about the language of flowers on this blog. In fact, last month, we were discussing the meaning of the pink rose. But lilies are more difficult to pin down. With a meaning that varies not only from colour to colour, but country to country. In China and Japan, all lilies are an emblem of good luck. In the UK, they can mean femininity, love, purity, and grief. In Greece, they are symbols of motherhood. And that’s even before we break them down into the different colour groups!

Not all lilies are lilies

Wait… what now? Despite the fact that there are more than 100 species of lily, many of the plants we call lilies aren’t actually lilies! Water lilies? Nope! Cala lilies? Nuh-huh! Peace lilies? No way, Jose! Daylilies (AKA Hemerocallis)? Despite looking very much like the real deal, they’re not lilies either. So, would a lily by any other name smell as sweet? Well, it depends exactly what you mean by ‘lily’!

Lilies are perfect for pollinators

As we all become more and more aware of the plight of the bees, it’s really useful to know which plants to grow in our gardens. And if you’re looking for a spring and summer garden hero, the lily is a definite contender. Not only do they make a stunning border filler, but they provide a great source of nectar for bees and butterflies. Before you head off to the garden centre though, it’s worth doing some research. As some species are also pollinated by wind.

So, there you go. Those are our favourite lily facts. Have we missed anything you think we should know? Share your thoughts over on our Facebook page!

Are you looking for a beautiful hand-tied cut flower arrangement featuring lilies? Why not browse the Blue Florist store?