# Lily (*Lilium candidum*)

Lilies are big, bright flowers that can smell sweet! They often bloom in summer and are loved by many for their beauty.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Lilies grow well in sunny gardens and flower beds.
- **Also known as:** Day Lily

![Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424277/objects/4922.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lily has large, showy flowers often shaped like trumpets, bowls, or recurved cups, displaying vibrant colors like white, pink, orange, yellow, and red, frequently adorned with spots or stripes. Its sturdy stem supports glossy green leaves.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Liliales
- **Family:** Liliaceae
- **Genus:** Lilium

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Greeks believed lilies sprang from the milk of Queen Hera!
- Lilies can grow from tiny scales shed from their main bulb!
- Some lilies can change color slightly depending on soil acidity!
- The Easter Lily bulb comes from Japan, not Easter Island!

## Special abilities

- **Fragrance Beacon:** Lily flowers release sweet scents at specific times, guiding pollinators like moths and bees to their nectar.
- **Bulb Powerhouse:** Underground bulbs store energy, allowing the Lily to survive harsh winters and re-emerge vigorously each spring.
- **Color Code:** Their bright, varied colors and distinct patterns attract specific insect pollinators, ensuring successful reproduction.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-180 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-25 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Drinks nectar, carrying pollen between flowers.
- **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in flower fertilization.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Eats leaves and flower buds, damaging plants.
- **Eaten by:** Lily Beetle (*Lilioceris lilii*) — Larvae and adults devour lily leaves.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## 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 Lily?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lily?

30-180 cm

### How wide does Lily spread?

15-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lily?

5-25 cm

### When does Lily bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is Lily edible?

No

### Is Lily toxic?

Moderate

### What is Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [L'Oceanogràfic](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/loceanogr-fic) — Valencian Community, ES · Aquarium

## 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: [Lily: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lily)