Lilies are an amazingly diverse group of colorful flowers with large blooms and wonderful scents. With over 90 types of species, though, there is a lot of diversification amongst them all. That’s part of their appeal! So many lilies, all so beautiful! With nine divisions, you can choose the ones you like best!

Lily Symbolism

One story of the origin of the lily dates back to Greek mythology, where the Goddess Hera created lilies on Earth when she spilled a few drops of her breast milk. Since Hera is the Goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth, the lily is often associated with rebirth and motherhood. In China, the lily is popular in weddings as it symbolizes good luck and 100 years of love. In Christianity, the Madonna lily is associated with the Virgin Mary as a symbol of purity and chastity.

Basic Lily Facts

Only lilies that belong to the genus Lilium are known as true lilies and they are easy to spot as they all have six petals and six anthers, which is the part that contains pollen. Lilies typically have large blooms and come in a wide range of colors. Some lilies are extremely fragrant, while others have no scent at all.

Lilies are respected in many cultures often associated with royalty. Other meanings attributed to the lily is purity, grace, fertility, and rebirth. Lilies have a certain grandeur and purity about them which is why they are usually seen in important ceremonies, weddings, and celebrations.

Lily Classifications & Examples

Pink Pixie Lilies

Division 1: Asiatic Hybrid – Colorful, long-lasting, large blooms. (Tango, Forever Susan, Orange Pixie)

Turk’s Cap Lily

Division 2: Martagon Hybrid – Dramatic, downward-facing blossoms, strikingly colored. (Turk’s Cap)

Madonna Lily

Division 3: Candidum Hybrid – Famous for the Madonna lily, white with yellow base and lovely fragrance. (Madonna)

Tiger Lily

Division 4: American Hybrid – Includes hybrids of wild lilies in North America.  (Tiger Lily)

Easter Lilies

Division 5: Longiflorum Hybrid – Known for Easter lily, pure white, and trumpet-shaped. Bloom during Easter. (Easter Lily)

African Queen Lily

Division 6: Trumpet and Aurelian Hybrids – Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, lush flowers.  (African Queen)

Stargazer Lily

Division 7: Oriental Hybrid – Large blooms and great scents. Colorful (Stargazer)

Orange LA Hybrid Lily

Division 8: Interdivisional Hybrids – Hybrids of the previous seven divisions.

Wild Yellow and Red Lily

Division 9: Species – Wild ancestors to all of the other classes.

POETRY

A Pure, Lovely Flower

Brighten someone’s day by sending them an arrangement with gorgeous lilies. Hera at Gainan’s Flowers, we have a wonderful selection of bouquets featuring lilies and other beautiful blooms, peruse them online here or give us a call!