Oriental lily — the fragrant showstopper
If you've walked into a room and immediately known there were lilies in it, they were almost certainly oriental lilies. Of all the lily types used in floristry, the oriental lily is the one that announces itself — large, open blooms, bold markings, and a fragrance that fills a room without being asked. They're among the most dramatic flowers in any arrangement, and when they open, they transform whatever is around them.
Oriental lily vs other lily types
The term "lily" covers a large and varied family, and it's worth understanding the main types florists work with:
Oriental Lillies — large blooms (often 15–20cm across when fully open), deeply fragrant, typically white, pink, or deep crimson with spotted or streaked markings. They open from prominent buds and each stem carries three to seven blooms at different stages.
Asiatic lilies — smaller, less fragrant than oriental lilies, and available in a much wider colour range including bright orange, yellow, and red. They open more quickly and have a slightly shorter vase life.
LA hybrid lilies — a cross between Asiatic and oriental lilies. They have more fragrance than Asiatics and more colour variety than pure orientals, making them a popular middle-ground choice.
Longiflorum lilies — the classic white trumpet lily, often associated with Easter. Elegant, elongated shape, moderate fragrance.
When people search for "oriental lily" or "lilys" in a floristry context, they're almost always looking for that large, heavily scented bloom — and that's what we'll focus on here.
Oriental lily colours and varieties
The most well-known oriental lily varieties include:
- Stargazer — deep pink to crimson with white edges and dark spotting, one of the most recognisable lily varieties in the world
- Casa Blanca — pure white with subtle green markings, one of the most elegant flowers in floristry
- Acapulco — deep pink, highly fragrant, and prolific in commercial production
- Sorbonne — soft pink with white edges, slightly more delicate in appearance than Stargazer
- Black Beauty — deep red with recurved petals, a dramatic variety that photographs beautifully
How long do oriental lilies last?
Oriental lilies typically last 10 to 14 days as cut flowers. Like lisianthus, one of their great qualities is that the buds on a stem open progressively — so while the first bloom may be fully open on day two, additional buds are still opening on days five, seven, and even ten. The arrangement evolves and keeps giving throughout its vase life.
One important care note: the pollen from oriental lily stamens will stain fabric, skin, and other surfaces a deep orange that is almost impossible to remove. When buds open, the stamens become visible — remove them carefully with a tissue before they release pollen. This doesn't harm the flower at all and saves a great deal of trouble.
General care:
- Trim stems at an angle before placing in water
- Remove foliage below the waterline
- Change water every two to three days
- Remove pollen-bearing stamens as each bloom opens
- Keep away from pets — lilies are highly toxic to cats
Lilies and cats — an important warning
Oriental lilies, and all true lilies (Lilium species), are extremely toxic to cats. Ingestion of even a small amount — including pollen that lands on fur and is groomed off — can cause acute kidney failure. If you have cats at home, lilies are not a safe flower to have in the house. We mention this as fellow Cat owners ourselves — it's important.
Oriental lilies in Gold Coast bouquets
We work with oriental lilies regularly, particularly Casa Blanca for wedding and sympathy work and Stargazer for more vibrant, celebratory arrangements. They appear in our larger bouquets, in en masse arrangements, and as statement stems in mixed designs where their scale and fragrance earn them a natural focal point.
If you love lilies, let us know when ordering and we'll make sure they feature — or we can build an arrangement around them entirely. You can also purchase our Oriental Lillies Bunch
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