The vibrant flowers commonly known as lilies belong to the genus Lilium, distinguishing them as true lilies from other similarly named plants like Calla or Daylilies. These bulbous perennials are native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where they have naturally evolved into a spectrum of hues. Through centuries of cultivation and modern hybridization, the color palette of the true lily has expanded significantly, offering impressive visual diversity.
The Primary Color Spectrum
The most common and widespread colors found across the Lilium genus include a full range of warm tones, from pristine whites to deep reds. White lilies, such as the classic Lilium candidum (Madonna lily), offer a clean, luminous presence, sometimes with a faint hint of green or yellow in the throat. This neutral base is often present in hybrids like the Oriental group, which feature large, highly fragrant blooms.
Moving along the spectrum, yellow and orange shades are highly prevalent, especially within the resilient Asiatic hybrids. These colors range from soft, pastel creams and buttery yellows to fiery, deep oranges, exemplified by species like the bright, eye-catching Lilium bulbiferum (Fire Lily).
Lily breeders have also developed a wide array of pinks and reds. Pinks can be delicate and soft, appearing as subtle blush tones on the petal tips, or they can deepen into vibrant rose and magenta shades. The reds in lilies are particularly striking, encompassing everything from bright, clear scarlet to profound, dark crimson hues.
Absent Colors and Rarities
While the lily’s color range is broad, two colors are notably absent from the natural Lilium palette: true blue and true black. The biological pathway to produce the specific pigments required for a pure blue color is not naturally present in the genus. Any flower marketed as a “blue lily” is almost certainly a member of a different plant family.
Similarly, flowers advertised as “black lilies” are not truly black but rather an intense saturation of the darkest red or purplish-maroon. These deep hues are achieved by an extremely high concentration of anthocyanins, creating a color that appears nearly black under certain light conditions. The color presentation in lilies is often complicated by intricate patterns, such as speckling or spotting, which is common in many species like the Tiger Lily.
These spots are usually a contrasting dark color, like maroon or black, and are formed by concentrated pigment in specific epidermal cells. Bicolor lilies are also considered rarities, displaying two distinct colors, such as a white flower with a contrasting throat color or petals that are white on the edges and a deep color in the center.
How Lily Colors are Determined
The diverse coloration in true lilies is fundamentally determined by the presence and concentration of two main classes of plant pigments. Carotenoids are responsible for the sunny yellows and oranges, accumulating in the chromoplasts within the petal cells.
In contrast, the reds, pinks, and purples are produced by water-soluble compounds called anthocyanins, which are stored in the cell sap. The intensity and exact hue of the color are influenced by its concentration and the pH level within the cell. A combination of both carotenoids and anthocyanins results in the various shades of red and orange-red seen in many hybrids.
The vast expansion of the color spectrum, including the creation of intense reds and complex bicolors, is largely a result of extensive hybridization and selective breeding programs. Breeders cross different species and hybrids to combine desired traits, manipulating the genetic instructions that control pigment production.