Lilies: meaning and care

The lily is one of the most elegant flowers there is and one of the best value: a single stem can carry four or five buds that open one after another over the course of a week.

Meaning

• White: purity and renewal. Widely used at weddings and also for condolences.
• Pink: prosperity and admiration.
• Yellow: gratitude and joy.
• Orange (tiger lily): confidence and pride.

Two real warnings

If there are cats in the house, don't send lilies. Every part of the plant —pollen included— is seriously toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. This is not an overcautious precaution: it is the reason many florists ask before sending lilies to a home. If you don't know whether there are cats, choose another flower.

The pollen stains. The anthers shed an orange powder that dyes clothes and tablecloths and doesn't come out with water. It is best to remove them carefully as soon as the flower opens; the flower also lasts longer that way.

Care

Clean water every two days, away from ripe fruit (the ethylene it gives off speeds up wilting) and out of direct sun. Well cared for, a lily bouquet lasts ten to twelve days.

Availability of each flower changes with the season. If you are looking for a specific flower, ask us before ordering and we will confirm whether we have it.