# Easter Lily (*Echinopsis oxygona (Link & Otto) Zucc. ex Pfeiff.*)

Easter Lilies are special flowers that bloom around Easter time. They are white and symbolize purity and hope!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Easter lilies are often seen in gardens during spring.
- **Also known as:** Lilium longiflorum

![Easter Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426091/objects/4923.jpg)

## Appearance

The Easter Lily is a globular to short-columnar cactus, often clumping and covered in sharp, radiating spines. Its large, showy, funnel-shaped flowers, typically pink or white, bloom briefly, often at night, making them visually unique.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Family:** Cactaceae
- **Genus:** Echinopsis

## Interesting facts

- It is often called a 'sea-urchin cactus' because of its round shape and spiky exterior!
- Its stunning flowers often open only for a single night, then close forever!
- The Easter Lily can grow many 'pups' around its base, forming large cactus families!
- This cactus can produce small, edible fruits, a sweet treat in its dry habitat!

## Special abilities

- **Water Storage Sponges:** Easter Lily has succulent stems that can store large amounts of water, helping it survive long dry periods.
- **Nighttime Bloomers:** Easter Lily can open its large, fragrant flowers only at night to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths.
- **Spiny Shield:** Easter Lily has sharp spines that protect its fleshy body from hungry herbivores in harsh environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-30 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-25 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Visits flowers for nectar during the night.
- **Eaten by:** Wild Cavy (*Cavia porcellus*) — May nibble on young cacti or fallen parts.
- **Eats:** Rufous-bellied Thrush (*Turdus rufiventris*) — Consumes its fruits, aiding in seed dispersal.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Easter Lily?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Easter Lily?

15-30 cm

### How wide does Easter Lily spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Easter Lily?

10-25 cm

### When does Easter Lily bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is Easter Lily edible?

Yes

### Is Easter Lily toxic?

None

### What is Easter Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/iriomote-ishigaki-national-park) — Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, JP · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Easter Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/easter-lily)