Flower Encyclopedia
Lily
Lilium spp.
Large, dramatic trumpet blooms with real presence — one stem does a lot of work.
Written by the Burton Floral Design team · Published July 24, 2026
At A Glance
Typical vase life
7–12 days
Availability
Year-round
Peak months
Year-round
Cost
Moderate
Fragrance
Strong
Pollen
High
Care
Moderate
Out of water
2–4 hours
Heat tolerance
Moderate
Cold tolerance
Moderate
Outdoor events
Good
Around pets
Keep away from pets
Pets in the house? Keep away from pets.
True lilies (Lilium) are extremely dangerous to cats — even small exposures to petals, leaves, pollen, or the vase water can cause severe, life-threatening kidney injury. Many florists recommend skipping true lilies entirely in any household with cats. Keep them far out of reach of all pets, and treat any suspected exposure as a same-day emergency call to your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service.
What It Means
Lilies symbolize purity, renewed innocence, and the soul, with a long place in devotional and memorial imagery. White lilies read as majesty and peace, which is why they anchor so many sympathy pieces, while brighter orientals and Asiatics bring celebration and warmth.
Colors it comes in
white · pink · yellow · orange · red · cream
Coordinates beautifully with
white · deep green · cream · soft pink
Season & Sourcing
Oriental and Asiatic lilies are grown for the market year-round, so supply is steady across seasons. Demand and pricing firm up around Easter and major holidays, when white lilies are especially sought.
Vase life, honestly
Lilies are excellent value for longevity because a single stem opens successive buds over a week or more. Buy them with buds just beginning to color for the longest show, and remove the orange anthers as flowers open to keep them clean.
Fragrance
Oriental lilies (like 'Stargazer') are powerfully fragrant and can fill a room; Asiatic lilies have little to no scent. Choose deliberately based on the setting and the recipient.
Keeping It Alive
- 1Recut stems at an angle and place them in clean water with flower food.
- 2As blooms open, gently remove the orange anthers with a tissue to prevent pollen stains on petals, linens, and clothing.
- 3Strip leaves below the waterline and refresh the water every two days.
- 4Buy stems with tight, coloring buds so blooms open in sequence over the week.
- 5Keep them out of direct sun and away from ripening fruit to extend the display.
What it costs: Lilies offer strong value because one multi-bud stem does the work of several single blooms. Premium oriental varieties and holiday windows raise the price.
Where It Shines
At weddings
White orientals and callas bring elegant scale to ceremony arrangements and tall centerpieces, though the strong fragrance and heavy pollen mean they are chosen carefully near food and formalwear. Anthers are almost always removed for wedding work.
In sympathy work
The classic sympathy flower — white lilies are central to casket pieces, standing sprays, and service arrangements, reading as peace, majesty, and remembrance across most traditions.
Every day
A high-impact stem for the home; a few lilies fill a large vase and open over days. Best placed where the fragrance is welcome and away from any household cat.
Can't Get It? Try
A Little History
Lilies are among the oldest cultivated flowers, appearing in Minoan frescoes and repeatedly in religious art as symbols of purity. The Madonna lily, Lilium candidum, has been grown around the Mediterranean for thousands of years and is one of the plants most often depicted in early European painting.
Questions People Ask
How long do cut lilies last?
Seven to twelve days is typical because a single stem opens its buds in sequence. Buying stems with tight, coloring buds and refreshing the water every couple of days gets you the longest show.
How do I stop lily pollen from staining everything?
As each flower opens, gently pluck out the orange anthers with a tissue before the pollen loosens. If pollen does land on fabric, lift it off with sticky tape rather than rubbing, which pushes the stain in.
Which lilies are the fragrant ones?
Oriental lilies such as 'Stargazer' are strongly scented and can fill a room, while Asiatic lilies have little to no fragrance. Ask specifically if scent — or the lack of it — matters for the setting.
Are lilies dangerous to cats?
Yes — true lilies are extremely dangerous to cats, and even pollen or vase water can cause severe kidney injury. Many florists recommend avoiding them entirely in homes with cats, and any suspected exposure is a same-day emergency call to your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service.
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