Description of Leaves of a Lily

Whorled Leaves

• Many Lilium martagon (Turk's cap) lilies have flat leaves arranged in whorls around the stem. The leaf whorls resemble fancy Elizabethan collars spaced at intervals along the lily's stalk. The veined leaves are bright or dark green.

Alternately Arranged Leaves

• Asiatic and Oriental lilies display their leaves alternately along and around the stem. The long, flat, strap-like leaves attach directly to the stem and widen, then come to a point. Prominent veins show on the bright green leaves.

Upright, Closed Leaves

• The dark-green leaves of the L. candidum (Madonna lily) hug the stem closely in an upright growth pattern. Whorled basal clumps of foliage appear in early fall and remain green through winter.

Grass-Like Leaves

• Some lilies display narrow, grassy foliage. L. davidii produces dark-green stems with an abundance of fine, downward-curling leaves that appear to be joined to the stem with a tuft of silky “hair.” The foliage is attractive even when the plant is not in bloom. L. regale (Regal lily) displays narrow, closely spaced leaves around and along the entire stem. The attractive foliage sets off its magnificent, sweetly scented trumpet blooms.