Oriental Lilies Flowers
Oriental lily varieties are plentiful and beautiful to add to any arrangement of flowers that you’re interested in getting for celebrations, funerals or otherwise. As lilies can represent many sentiments depending on their color, white lilies that represent purity are often used for funerals whereas pink lilies express prosperity, which make them perfect for promotion celebrations. Oriental lilies generally prefer acidic soil when planted. Extreme heat during the summer is a major no-no for these plants, too. They do better indoors in very hot places during the summer with frequent misting recommended. Especially when grown in the shade, most oriental lily varieties will develop huge petals and reach amazing heights while emitting a scrumptious aroma come late summer!
Lilies From China
Lilies such as the Liliumhenryi hail from China. Nicknamed the “Chinese Lily”, the henryi species of lily is a great option for starter gardeners as it is as hardy as it is pretty. While often touted as “indestructible”, Chinese lilies will bloom and reach maturity around August, growing to heights of three to six feet. They have small, yellowish-orange flower petals and atypical to most oriental lilies, these will grow without complaint in an alkaline soil. Other varieties of Chinese lilies include the Liliumleucanthum which features giant trumpet-shaped petals of raspberry and white color and grow to eight feet at maturity and the Arisaemaerubescens which is also known as the Chinese Cobra lily which can switch sexes to fertilize itself!
Magic Lilies From Japan
With its roots in southern China, the Magic lily is an Oriental variety of lily that’sachieved quite a popular following in the States. As late summer bloomers, these lilies are seen in full bloom around August. Light pink in color, the lily petals have a trumpet shape to them and will grow roughly three feet tall. In 1880 Magic lilies, (Lycorissquamigera) were first introduced to the States. It is believed that a Doctor from Rhode Island named Dr. George R. Hall had imported the plant from Japan during a mission there to study the opthomological needs in Japan. Dr. Hall is well-known for being the person to introduce the Japanese honeysuckle to Arkansas ultimately resulting in its flourishing and taking over plant ecosystems throughout the State.
Other Oriental Lily Varieties
While oriental lilies can be purchased in packs with a wide variety of colors and species, not all will come from China or Japan. Oriental lilies are commonly found in Korea and had been grow in gardens there dating back for over three thousand years. Korean dishes did often eat foods with flowers in them such as hawjeon with chrysanthemum flowers, the lily varieties weren’t always good to eat. There were some that actually had been made into a type of flour that would be used for cooking, though somevisionary individuals would use the lily for making alcoholic spirits that tasted of the sweet nectar. This type of edible integration of lilies is found in China and Japan, too.