Lily (Lilium) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

True lilies are the Lilium species with leafy upright stems, scaly bulbs, and large six-parted flowers. The United States has native lilies in both eastern and western regions, while Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, and tiger lilies are familiar cultivated or introduced plants.

In this group

Canada lilyLilium canadense

This eastern native grows in moist meadows and open woods. Its nodding yellow, orange, or red flowers have that curve back only moderately.

Turk's-cap lilyLilium superbum

This tall eastern native grows in wet meadows and streamside habitats. Its orange flowers hang downward and have tepals rolled strongly backward.

wood lilyLilium philadelphicum

This native has upright red-orange flowers and occurs in open woods, prairies, and meadows across much of the northern United States.

Columbia lilyLilium columbianum

This western native has nodding orange flowers with dark spots and strongly curved-back tepals. It grows in open woods and meadows from the Pacific Northwest into northern California.

lemon lilyLilium parryi

This uncommon native of the Southwest grows in mountain wetlands and has nodding yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.

tiger lilyLilium lancifolium

This Asian species is cultivated and has escaped in parts of the United States. Orange spotted flowers curl backward, and dark form in the leaf axils.

Easter lilyLilium longiflorum

This East Asian species is grown for fragrant white trumpet flowers and is widely sold in spring. It is one of the true lilies that are highly toxic to cats.

Appearance

Leaves: Leaves grow along the flowering stem, either one by one or in . That leafy stem helps separate true lilies from daylilies, whose strap-shaped leaves arise mainly from the base.
Flowers: Flowers may face upward, outward, or downward. The tepals can spread widely, form a trumpet, or curl strongly backward, and many species have spots or raised markings.
Fruit: After flowering, a dry develops and releases flattened seeds.
How to recognize it: A true lily grows from a bulb made of overlapping fleshy scales. Its upright stem bears leaves, and its flower usually shows six tepals, six pollen-bearing parts and one slender central stalk of the female part.

Look-alikes

dayliliesHemerocallis

Daylilies have strap-shaped leaves arising from the base and leafless flower stalks, and each flower usually lasts one day. True lilies have leafy upright stems and scaly bulbs.

Why they get mixed upBoth have large six-parted flowers and share “lily” in their common names.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: moist meadows and wetlands
woodlands and mountain slopes
gardens
Range: Lilium is native across temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Twenty-one species are recorded as native to North America.
Preferred conditions: Habitats range from wet eastern meadows to western mountain slopes and open woods. Garden lilies generally need well-drained soil, but the best conditions vary among species and hybrid groups.

Growing it

Propagation: Lilies reproduce by seed and through bulbs. Some species also form small bulbils on the stem or produce new bulbs underground.
Toxicity: All parts of true lilies, including pollen and vase water, are extremely dangerous to cats. Even a small exposure requires immediate veterinary help.

Name and classification

Group name: “True lily” means a plant in Lilium. Daylilies (Hemerocallis), peace lilies, and lilies-of-the-valley belong to other groups.
Varieties and forms: Garden lilies include Asiatic, Oriental, trumpet, and many intergroup hybrids. Garden varieties vary widely in height, color, scent, and flower direction.

Conservation

Conservation: Western lily (Lilium occidentale) is federally listed as endangered in the United States. Its wild populations occur in California and Oregon.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) is sold widely for spring holidays in the United States.

23 sources