True lilies produce some of the most elegant, often intensely fragrant blooms of the summer garden, their large trumpet or bowl-shaped flowers a centerpiece of both borders and cut arrangements.
Native across the Northern Hemisphere, true lilies (genus Lilium) include Asiatic, Oriental, and trumpet types, each offering a distinct bloom style, height, and level of fragrance. Their striking form has made them a symbol of purity and elegance across many cultures for centuries.
Lily symbolizes purity, refined beauty, and renewal, and it appears throughout religious and mythological traditions worldwide, from Christian associations with the Virgin Mary to ancient Greek mythology.
Lilies want full sun to light shade and rich, well-draining soil, planted in fall or spring at a depth of about three times the bulb's height. Leaving the foliage intact after blooming, until it yellows naturally, feeds the bulb for a strong bloom the following year.
True lilies are highly toxic to cats even in small amounts and have no history of safe herbal use — pet owners in particular should exercise real caution when growing or displaying them indoors.
