Easter lily is an herbaceous perennial that is found in grasslands and slopes in the rich soils and moist shade of woodlands. This species is placed in the Longiflorum Lilies group. Easter lily is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae) and native to Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. The species epithet is Latin for “long flower.” Easter lilies are generally grown in pots, forced in greenhouses and sold as seasonal decorations (i.e., throw-away, florist plants). For best results in the garden, plant in rich, organic, well-drained soil in full sun, but keep the roots shaded. This species will also grow well in sandy or clay soils. Mulch and maintain even moisture. Plant bulbs 4 to 6" deep in fall or early spring, spacing them 12" apart in groups. You may cut back the stems after the foliage yellows. This is the classic "Easter lily" that is forced into bloom for the Easter market and sold by florists. Under ordinary garden conditions, this species flowers in autumn. This species is prized for its large, fragrant, pristine white flowers. Use Easter lilies in containers or in the border as an accent plant. Consider using it in an Asian, cutting or cottage garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and mites are pests, but they are rarely serious. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Lilium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 4 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Narrow leaves clothe the entire length of the stem.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower detail
Large white trumpet-shaped flowers with 6 tepals. Flowers are fragrant and appear from late summer to early fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Thin wiry stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#pollinator plant #large flowers #showy flowers #mass planting #nectar plant late summer #white flowers #flowers early fall #flowers late summer #small spaces #bee friendly #difficult to grow #nectar plant early fall #fragrant flowers #slopes #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #problem for cats #wildlife friendly #woodland #florist plant #bat friendly #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Bulb Mites; Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage; Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants; Narcissus Bulb Fly; Tulip Aphid