10
October | 2022
A Florist ' Guid t
Lilies
With their wide range of warm colors, these long-lasting
fl owers are the perfect blooms for the autumn season
and all its holidays.
Lilies are among the most recognizable fl owers on the market today.
For decades, they have been top-selling cut fl owers thanks to their
long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, fragrance (or not; lilies
off er the option) and wide spectrum of fantastic colors—especially for
the fall season!
For your clients' autumn decorating and celebrations, showcase a
range of rich burgundies, deep reds and scarlets; soft peaches and
apricots, vibrant oranges and tangerines, and rusts and terra-cottas;
and yellows ranging from lemon and sunshine to egg yolk and golden.
And don't forget the complex multicolor lilies—red-orange, yellow-
orange and golden-orange blends; red/yellow and orange/red bicolors;
and even the red- and rust-speckled 'Tango' series.
With more than 90 species in the Lilium genus, Asiatic and Oriental
hybrids are the most prolifi cally used in the fl orist trade. However, new
releases and advances in lily breeding off er consumers even greater
options in stem length, fl ower shape, size, color and scent, with
new hybrids such as OT (a.k.a. Oriental/Trumpet or Orienpet), LA
(Longifl orum/Asiatic) and LO (Longifl orum/Oriental).
Brush up on your lily knowledge to improve your off erings, compete in
the marketplace and stay current with social-media-trending fl owers.
LILY MEANINGS
In general, lilies symbolize devotion or purity, but each color
also has a special meaning:
• Yellow Lilies: happiness, gratitude and healing
• Red Lilies: passion, desire and romance
• Orange Lilies: confi dence and encouragement
• White Lilies: innocence, modesty and grace
• Light Pink Lilies: elegance, femininity and generosity
• Dark Pink Lilies: prosperity, abundance and ambition
