The term “lily” is frequently used in common language to describe a wide variety of flowers, many of which share a similar shape or striking appearance. This widespread use causes significant confusion because the word also refers to a specific group of plants in botanical classification. Numerous white-flowered species are popularly called lilies, but only a select group belongs to the plant genus that scientists recognize as the true lily. Understanding the difference between a common name and a scientific designation clarifies which flowers are genuinely white lilies and which are merely lily-like.
The True White Lilies: Genus Lilium
A true lily is any plant belonging to the genus Lilium, which is the defining genus of the family Liliaceae. These perennial, herbaceous plants are characterized by their large, showy flowers and their growth from a specific type of underground storage organ known as a scaly bulb. The true lily bulb lacks the papery covering, or tunic, found on other bulbs, such as those of tulips.
True lily flowers are distinct, consisting of six petal-like segments, known as tepals, which are separate from one another. These tepals can be arranged in various shapes, including the classic trumpet form, a cup or bowl shape, or a strongly reflexed shape known as a “Turk’s cap”. The plants are native to the Northern Hemisphere and feature stiff, unbranched stems with leaves that are narrow and linear.
Specific White Lilium Species and Their Common Names
Several species within the Lilium genus are famous for their white flowers, representing the classic image of a white lily. The Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) is one of the oldest cultivated true lilies, grown for at least 3,000 years. This species produces large, fragrant, pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers that face outward and often have a yellow tint at the throat. It is sometimes also called the Annunciation Lily or St. Joseph’s Lily, and it is native to the Balkans and the Middle East.
The Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum) is native to the islands of Japan and Taiwan. This species features a large, solitary, outward-facing, trumpet-shaped flower that is intensely fragrant and pure white. The Easter Lily is cultivated specifically to bloom around the Christian holiday of Easter, a process that involves forcing the bulb to flower out of its natural late-summer bloom time.
White Flowers That Are Not True Lilies
Many flowers with “lily” in their common name are not members of the genus Lilium and belong to different botanical families. The Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is a member of the Araceae family, also known as the Arum family. Its characteristic “flower” is actually a large, white, funnel-shaped modified leaf called a spathe, which surrounds a yellow central spike known as a spadix.
The Peace Lily, belonging to the genus Spathiphyllum, is also in the Araceae family. Like the Calla Lily, its white bloom is a spathe that partially encloses a central spadix. Daylilies, scientifically named Hemerocallis, do not grow from true bulbs but from fibrous-tuberous roots and belong to the Asphodelaceae family. The common name for Hemerocallis refers to the fact that each flower lasts for only a single day, a trait unlike that of the perennial true lily blooms.
Symbolism and Cultural Importance
White lilies, particularly the true lilies of the Lilium genus, possess deep symbolism across various cultures and religions. They are widely recognized as a symbol of purity, innocence, and new beginnings. The white lily’s pristine appearance has led to its association with the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition, often representing her humility and purity.
The flower also connects to themes of renewal and rebirth, which is why the Easter Lily became a popular symbol of Christ’s resurrection. In ancient Greek mythology, the white lily was linked to the goddess Hera, representing motherhood and femininity. Today, white lilies are commonly used in weddings to symbolize pure love and in memorials or funerals to express sympathy and the deceased’s return to a state of innocence.