Easter Lily Care and History

The Easter lily embodies the joy of spring with its trumpet-shaped blooms and sweet fragrance-but to Christians the Easter lily represents resurrection and eternal life. Believed to have sprung from the soil where the sweat of Christ fell to the ground in his final hours, the Easter lily adorns churches across the nation on Easter as a symbol of hope and eternal life.

Brief History
Native to the southern islands of Japan, these lily bulbs were imported to the U.S. until the start of World War II. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the supply of lily bulbs was cut off. Growers began to produce Easter lily bulbs along the pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. Today, production of these bulbs is isolated to about 10 farms in a small coastal region near the California-Oregon border, called the Easter Lily Capital of the world. Bulbs are shipped to nurseries across the nation where they are grown and forced to bloom for the Easter holidays.

Selecting Easter Lilies

Select Easter lilies that are just beginning to open. Look for a plant that has several buds in various stages. Those with one or two blooms about to open and several other tightly closed buds will provide fresh blooms for an extended period.

Examine the foliage. Healthy Easter lilies have deep green foliage that extends to the soil level. Yellowed leaves are a sign of stress to the plant.

Easter Lily Care

Place the Easter lily near a window that receives bright indirect light, where temperatures remain between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Move to a cooler location with temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees at night to prolong the life of the plant.

Water Easter lilies when the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch. Remove the decorative cover from the pot and water until it runs freely through the bottom of the pot. When all excess water has drained, replace the decorative cover.

Remove the yellow anthem from the center of the bloom before it begins to release pollen. This extends the life of the bloom and prevents pollen from staining the white petals of the lily or getting on table cloths and clothing.

Pinch off blooms when they begin to fade. This improves the appearance of your Easter lily and channels energy into the new blooms.

When Easter lilies complete their blooming cycle, it is time to prepare them for planting in the garden. See "How to Replant Easter Lilies in the Garden" for details on preparing and planting your Easter lily in the garden for summer blooms.

SOURCES:
University of Illinois Extension; Caring for Your Easter Lily; February 2008
Alabama Cooperative Extension Services; Proper Care and Nurture of the Easter Lily; Jerry A. Chenault