Lily Varieties for Specialty Cut Flower Growers

Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

• The trumpet-shaped calla lily displays flowers in shades ranging from white to golden-yellow, pink to deep-purple. A single calla lily tuber produces from 10 to 30 flowers. The calla lily provides growers and florists with a great return on the investment. A giant tuber bulb yields anywhere from 10 to 30 flowers.

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

• The lily of the valley stem bears dozens of fragrant blossoms. Its "weeping" posture lends an old-fashioned conveyance of elegance and grace. Growers sell stems to florists to enhance floral displays and bridal bouquets.

Oriental Lilies (Lilium auratum)

• While their name and history stems from Asia, the bulbs used by growers in the United States and Canada for Oriental lilies come from The Netherlands, New Zealand or from states within the Northwestern United States. Mature bulbs are rather large, usually 4 to 9 inches wide. Oriental lilies usually bear a solitary flower. Some exude roots from the stems to absorb water, nutrients and support the plant. The petals of Oriental lilies are known to curl and scallop, or have speckling along the interiors of the petals, adding to the variety's special qualities. Like the Peruvian, Oriental lilies are a favorite for growers as a year-long reseller to florists to use in floral designs and bouquets to service both everyday as well as special occasions.