Lilies are the 7th most important cut flower grown in Ontario.
A member of the Liliaceae family, lilies are fragrant, bulbous, herbaceous perennials native to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.
The lily is considered to be the sacred flower of motherhood, hence its popularity for Mother’s Day. According to Anglo-Saxon folklore, if both a rose and a lily were offered to an expectant mother and she chose the rose, her baby would be a girl. If she chose the lily, a boy was on the way.
Most lily varieties produced in Ontario are available year round with peak availability in the spring and summer. When buying lilies, look for stems with a few of the lower buds slightly opened and showing some color. Trim stems with a sharp knife and remove foliage below the water line. Also, to avoid difficult stains, remove pollen-bearing anthers before putting the stems in water. If lily pollen gets on your clothing or other fabric, let it “dry,” then use a hairdryer to blow it away. Do not use your hands or a wet cloth, as oil and/or water set the stain.
Arrange stems loosely in a tall container, with lukewarm water and fresh flower food. Refresh water every few days and pinch blossoms and leaves as they turn yellow. Lilies are ethylene gas sensitive which can shorten their potential vase life of 7-14 days.
There are four main lily categories: longiflorums have a strong, sweet fragrance and feature large, funnel-shaped flowers that are normally white. Asiatic hybrids have smaller flowers and are less fragrant, but they're available in a wide variety of colors. Oriental hybrids are available in fewer colors, but they have larger flowers and stronger fragrances than the Asiatics. Finally, the longiflorum x Asiatic category includes mostly apricot- or salmon-colored varieties that have only a light fragrance.
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