Lilies are one of the bestselling flowers of all time. Learn all about what sets each type of lily apart, the flower meaning behind its colors and in different cultures, and how to make them last longer in cut flower arrangements.

Lilies are classic flowers that never go out of style. With large, showy blooms that come in bright colors, they rank second on the list of best-selling cut flowers by the Daily Beast.

They are a favorite focal flower in many styles of flower arrangements and favored by a growing number of brides for their wedding bouquet. The most popular types of lilies are:

• Stargazer Oriental Lily
• Casablanca Oriental Lily
• Turk’s Cap Martagon Hybrid
• Easter Lily Longiforum Hybrid
• African Queen Trumpet Hybrid
• Forever Susan Asiatic Hybrid
• Madonna Candidum Hybrid

WHAT ARE TRUE LILIES?

It’s important to establish that not all flowers that have “lily” on their names are true lilies. This can be confusing when we think of water lily, daylily, Calla lily, and Lily of the Valley. These are all not true lilies, by the way.

So, how can you tell whether a flower is a true lily or not?

First of all, the flower should be botanically listed as part of the Lilium flowering plant family. If a quick online search of the flower in question reveals a different scientific name, it is not a true lily at all. For instance, the scientific name of Calla Lily is Zantedeschia aethiopica and Daylilies are actually Hemerocallis.

When it comes to their physical looks, true lilies are bulb-type flowers. They have six petals and six antlers. They can grow from less than 1 feet to 10 feet in height.

LILY FLOWER MEANINGS

Basically, there are beautiful flower meanings behind all types of lilies. These exquisite flowers are the embodiment of beauty, grace, sophistication, royalty, and rebirth.

Just like other flowers, the flower meanings can change depending on the petal’s colors. If you love gifting floral arrangements to friends and family as much as we do, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the special meanings behind these blooms. Check these out:

White Lily – Clean and immaculate, it symbolizes purity, innocence, modesty.

Yellow Lily – Bright and cheerful, yellow lilies represent happiness, gratitude, good health, and healing.

Red Lily – The color of blood, red lily desire, passion, and romance.

Pink Lily – A feminine color, pink lilies can mean grace, prosperity, and abundance. The pink, striped stargazer lily specifically means ambition.

Orange Lily – These flowers stand for confidence, wealth, and encouragement.