The lily is in the Flower Agenda in June

The Greeks and Romans knew that the lily is a remarkable flower. You could use them to treat snakebites or get rid of wrinkles. Or eat them. Nowadays we prefer to place the flower in a vase, and on the Flower Agenda in June. Well-deserved, with so much beauty, symbolism and history. 

Origin
In the wild lilies bloom in Korea, Japan, India and parts of Siberia. They also grow wild in most American states. In Europe the lily is native to the Caucasus, the Balkans, Greece, Poland, the Alps and Pyrenees. The French King Louis VII was therefore able to include the flower in his coat of arms around 1150 as a symbol of his name: Louis or Loys.

Range
Lilies can be propagated quickly, and growers and breeders are certainly not sitting still. Crossbreeding is producing ever more unusual shapes and colours. Whilst in the last century it was particularly the cultivars from the Asiatic, Oriental and Longiflorum groups, in 2020 there are crosses between Longiflorum x Asiatic (LA), Oriental x Asiatic (OA), Oriental x trumpet (OT) and new cultivars from the wild Lilium martagon. These include flowers with an enormous diameter, with an almost black heart, multicoloured varieties, double flowers, scentless lilies, without pollen or very unusual examples such as Lilium ‘Apricots Fudge’.

What to look for when buying lilies

Care tips for professionals

Display tips for professionals
You can create any mood you like with lilies: there are so many shapes, colours and sizes! You can make serene mixed bouquets by combining the white Lilium longiflorum or a white Oriental lily with white roses and Eucalyptus leaves. You can lend a touch of romance to the same combination by adding Gysophila and replacing the Eucalyptus with Asparagus. A more modern and loose bouquet can be produced by combining Asiatic lilies with gerberas, Astrantia and other summer flowers that are available in June.

Care tips for customers

Source flowercouncil.co


Back to Trends & News