Facts about Lilies
- 12
Lily flowers typically last 7-10 days in a vase, but removing the stamens can extend vase life by 2-3 additional days since stamens accelerate ethylene production that triggers petal senescence.
- 11
Casablanca lilies, a popular white Oriental hybrid, require 120 days of growth from planting to full bloom and are harvested with only 1-2 flowers open to maximize vase life.
- 10
Royal jelly fed to lily bulbs in tissue culture can increase regeneration rates by up to 300 percent compared to standard nutrient media.
- 09
Approximately 110 species of lilies exist worldwide, with the majority native to the Northern Hemisphere and concentrated in temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and North America.
- 08
Certain lily species native to Japan and China produce flowers with petals reflexed so dramatically backward that they form nearly complete circles, a characteristic called turk's cap morphology.
- 07
Tiger lilies produce bulbils in their leaf axils that can develop into new plants, allowing asexual reproduction without requiring pollination or seed formation.
- 06
Lily bulbs can remain viable for up to 12 months when stored at 4 degrees Celsius, making them suitable for delayed spring planting schedules.
- 05
The Madonna lily has been cultivated for over 3,000 years and appears in ancient Egyptian murals dating to 1500 BCE as a symbol of purity.
- 04
Lilies have 6 stamens and 6 petals arranged in two whorls, with some species producing fragrant compounds that attract specific pollinator insects across 12 meter distances.
- 03
The Asiatic lily 'Enchantment', introduced in 1944, produces up to 16 flowers per stem and remains one of the hardiest lily varieties for garden cultivation.
- 02
Lily pollen contains carotenoid pigments that can permanently stain clothing and skin, requiring rubbing with cellophane tape rather than water for removal.
- 01
The Oriental lily variety 'Stargazer' was developed in 1974 by Leslie Woodriff in Oregon and became the most popular cut lily globally.