Flower of the Week

Flower of the Week Oriental Lily

The flowers of oriental lily, with their large petals, strong fragrance, and rich color, bloom enduringly through summer and are one of the world’s most renowned cut flowers. They are also widely applauded among gardeners.

Plant just a few bulbs of oriental lily and you’ll have an amazing garden to harvest. You can plant it next to a gazebo or patio and enjoy the flowers’ scent as you cool off during summer evenings. It’s important to note that oriental lily is toxic to cats and need to be grown with care by those who have cats at home.

Oriental Lily's Families

The members of the lily family are inextricably related, and oriental lily is the offspring of multiple lily hybrids. It continues to hybridize with other lilies, constantly adding new members to the family.

Red Japanese Lily

Red Japanese Lily (Lilium speciosum) has pendulous, reflexed, undulate-margined flowers and is one of the parents of oriental lily (meaning Lilium speciosum hybridized with other lilies to produce oriental lily).

Lilium speciosum

Golden-rayed lily

Golden-rayed lily (L. auratum)’s flowers are huge and have a strong fragrance as well as yellow streaks and orange spots on the petals. It is also one of the parents of oriental lily, from which many important features of oriental lily are derived.

Lilium auratum

Trumpet Lily

Trumpet lily (L. longiflorum) has trumpet-like flowers that are slightly drooping and fragrant. Like the oriental lily, it’s also the offspring of multiple lily hybridizations.

Lilium longiflorum

Orienpet Lily

Orienpet lily is the offspring of an oriental lily and trumpet lily hybridization, combining the beautiful look of oriental lily with trumpet lily’s resistance to undesirable environments. Orienpet lily also has a charming scent and is very popular.

In addition to these, there are Martagon Lily (L. martagon), which resembles a Turkish hat, Asiatic lily, which is the easiest to cultivate, and Tiger Lily (L. tigrinum), which has brown spots on its orange petals, to name a few.

Lilium tigrinum

Nature gave birth to colorful lilies, and through constant hybridization, horticulturists have cultivated even more gorgeous varieties, growing the family and providing more choices and beauty for people to enjoy.

Lilies in Religions

White lily has historically been a symbol of purity. It appears in many medieval portraits of the Virgin Mary because it has neither stamens nor pistils, representing the absence of any impure thoughts associated with sex.

Tiziano Vecellio (1535), Annunciation

The most iconic theme of such portraits is Annunciation, wherein Gabriel informs the Blessed Virgin Mary that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Gabriel is often depicted in the paintings holding white lilies.

How do I Grow Oriental Lily Well?

Oriental lily is easy to care for; simply meet its requirements for light and water, and it will fully bloom in your garden.

Oriental lily is suitable for planting in early spring or fall. It likes ample light and can tolerate proper shade. It can be planted in a well-lit spot in the garden. It prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil and cannot grow in alkaline soil. It has a great need for moisture, so avoid dry soil in daily care. After flowering, you can cut back wilted flowers to reduce nutrient consumption.

Size: 30-120 cm (1-4 in) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9

Light: Full sun to half sun

Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic

Bloom time: Summer