Properties of a Lily

Hardiness & Types

• Asiatic and Oriental lilies are the two largest groups of lilies. They are cold hardy -- some can even survive winters in U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zone 3 -- and boast a wide variety of cultivars. Trumpet lilies, including Easter lilies, prefer warmer climates -- they are hardy to USDA zone 5 -- but can be grown indoors and are often given as gifts.

Form & Colors

• Members of the Lilium genus feature sturdy but slender stems lined with long, thin leaves. The large flowers bloom at the top of each stem. The flowers are showy and may be tilted down, up or straight out. Some have separate, rounded petals, while others are shaped like trumpets. Many have ruffled edges. Lilies come in a wide variety of colors, including petals streaked with more than one hue. Common colors include white, yellow, gold, pink, purple, red and brownish-orange. Lilies range in size from 12 inches to more than 6 feet tall, depending on the species and cultivar.

Culture & Environment

• Lilies thrive in sunny conditions. Most need at least eight hours of sunlight per day to develop tall, strong stems and to bloom prolifically. The bulbs will rot if planted in areas of very wet soil, so plant lilies in well-draining locations where standing water does not develop. They grow best in rich, organic soil and benefit from a thick, 4-inch layer of mulch in the fall.

Traits & Considerations

• Lilies are often grown in cut flower gardens and sold in cut flower arrangements. They last for up to two weeks in a vase and are inexpensive. That flower in your arrangement may not really be a lily, however. Not all flowers that look like lilies are true lilies. Day lilies -- even though they have the word "lily" in their common name -- are very similar in appearance to flowers in the Lilium species, but they are not members of the genus. The same holds true for peace lilies.