A Florist's Guide to Lilies

Few flowers carry the scent, structure, and sheer staying power of the lily. Unlike many focal blooms, lilies arrive in tight bud and continue to open over several days, giving florists a flower that develops in the vase rather than one that peaks and fades on delivery. 

Lilies are one of the most reliable British cut flowers, with UK growers producing strong stems from late spring through to early autumn. Sourcing British-grown lilies means buds arrive firm and unblemished, without the bruising and premature opening that long-haul imports often suffer.

When ordering for floristry designs, it helps to know the main groups on offer:

• Oriental Lilies: Large, richly perfumed blooms in white through to deep magenta. The classic choice where fragrance and scale matter, though the scent can be too strong for small or enclosed spaces.
• Asiatic (LA) Lilies: A tamer scent and a much wider colour range. Useful where a client wants lily form without the heavy perfume.
• Roselily / Double Oriental Lilies: A pollen-free, fully double form that opens to resemble a rose rather than a traditional trumpet. Examples include: 'Aisha', a pure white double with a soft green blush through the petal, and 'Samantha', a double pink with the same ruffled, layered form.

The advantage of pollen-free varieties

Image: Aisha Rose lily

Not every job calls for a pollen-free lily, and the classic single-flowered Orientals still have their place for scale and scent. But pollen-free varieties like Aisha and Samantha solve three practical problems at once:

• No staining. Lily pollen marks clothing, linens, and petals permanently, which matters for bridalwear, venue dressing, and any arrangement near soft furnishings.
• No stripping. Anthers don't need to be removed by hand as the flower opens, saving time on the workbench and removing the risk of a badly timed brush against an open bloom.
• Lower allergy risk. Useful for guests or clients sensitive to pollen, without giving up the lily's characteristic form and scent.

The mechanics of lilies in floristry design

Lilies typically act as a secondary focal flower, adding height, fragrance, and structure to bridal work, urns, and larger arrangements, though the double Rose lily forms are increasingly used as a standalone focal bloom in their own right.

Essential mechanics & handling rules:

1. Buds Open After Cutting: Lilies are usually bought in tight bud and open progressively over three to five days. Buy accordingly: allow lead time before an event rather than expecting stems to be display-ready on arrival.
2. Anther Removal (Non-Pollen-Free Varieties): As each bloom opens, pinch or snip the orange anthers before they shed. This prevents staining and extends the clean life of the flower. Roselily varieties, being pollen-free, skip this step entirely.
3. Staggered Development: Each stem carries several buds at different stages. Arrange with this in mind, since a stem will keep changing shape over the following days as lower buds open and upper buds catch up.

Florist Tip: If a design needs to look fully open on the day, choose stems with the most advanced buds already showing colour and some give when gently pressed. Fully tight green buds may not open in time for a same-day event.

Step-by-step conditioning for maximum vase life

Lilies are thirsty flowers with a high water demand as buds develop. Follow this routine on delivery to support strong, even opening:

1. Strip Lower Foliage (Immediate Arrival): Remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline. Submerged leaves break down quickly and cloud the water, encouraging bacteria that shorten vase life.
2. Clean Angled Recut: Cut 2–3 cm off the base of each stem at an angle using a sharp knife or shears, giving a fresh, open surface for water uptake.
3. Tepid Water: Place stems straight into tepid water treated with flower food. Tepid water is taken up faster than cold, which helps buds develop evenly.
4. Condition Before Arranging: Store in a cool room away from direct sun and draughts for a few hours, or overnight where possible, before arranging. This allows the stems to fully hydrate and reduces the risk of bud drop later.
5. Refresh Regularly: Change the water and re-cut stems every two to three days, removing any spent anthers on non-pollen-free varieties as you go.

Why you'll love the Evolve Flowers lily collection