With its trumpet-shaped petals, elegant white hue, and sweet-smelling aroma, the Easter lily is a beautiful symbol of spring, renewal, and everything that the holiday represents. Seeing these potted perennials pop up in across homes and churches throughout the season is such a wonderful reminder that spring is here at last.
Easter lilies, scientifically known as Lilium longiflorum, are originally native to the southern islands of Japan, but farms in the United States grow the bulbs for our benefit so they bloom just in time for the holiday. The process of raising these crops is actually a pretty painstaking one: They must be cultivated in fields for two to four years before they’re big enough to harvest. From there, they’re shipped to nurseries where the temperature and light conditions are carefully controlled for months, so the plants are “tricked” into blooming in time for Easter, a date that changes every year but usually falls between March 22 and April 25.
Whether you’re using Easter lilies as the centerpiece of your Easter brunch table or the backdrop of your Easter dinner spread, they’ll make the festivities feel extra special and symbolic. And while this type of spring flower is largely associated with Easter, with the right care and conditions, you can help yours look fresher and last longer—even well past the holiday. Wondering how? Here’s everything to know about caring for an Easter lily.
Easter Lily History and Symbolism
White lilies are mentioned or alluded to many times throughout the Bible as symbols of purity, rebirth, and hope. These elegant blooms are said to symbolize the purity of Jesus Christ, who was free from sin. Since the bulbs grow underground for three years or longer before becoming a beautiful bloom, the life cycle of Easter lilies even mirrors Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then, there’s the flower’s trumpet shape, which is thought to represent the trumpet-sounding horns that announced Jesus has risen.
While the concept of Easter lilies has been preserved in the Bible for centuries, these spring blossoms didn’t make their way onto American soil until much more recently. After World War II, a soldier brought a suitcase of Easter lilies from the flowers’ native country of Japan to his home state of Oregon. There, he handed them off to his horticulturalist friends, who discovered that the California-Oregon border offers prime growing conditions. To this day, both states produce the majority of the world’s Easter lilies.
How to Choose an Easter Lily
In the weeks leading up to Easter, these white blooms will be in abundance at grocery stores, garden centers, and national retailers. As you’re browsing the selection of potted plants, you’ll want to choose one with buds that aren’t fully in bloom but that have some signs of growth, specifically one or two flowers open. Look for a healthy plant with uniform color, green foliage, straight stems, and symmetrically arranged blossoms without any signs of disease, distress, or infestation like dark spots or damaged leaves.
How to Care for an Easter Lily
Once you bring your perennial home, remove the plastic sleeve and foil pot cover (so water can drain out of the bottom) and find a highly visible spot that lets the lily shine. Once you’ve displayed the perennial, treating it like any other Easter decoration can actually dull its vibrancy and shorten its lifespan. Instead, you’ll want to nurture it with proper care and maintenance, like you would with any other houseplant, to help your Easter lily thrive (and last up to three weeks!). Here’s how:
Provide Sufficient Sunlight
To grow healthy and strong, Easter lilies need bright, indirect sunlight. Once you’ve found a well-lit spot that’s away from chilly drafts and heating vents, rotate the plant periodically to encourage even growth. It's also a good idea to remove the yellow-ish pistils in the center of the flower, so pollen doesn't drop and stain the flower petals or any of your furniture.
Opt for Nutrient-Rich Soil
If you’ve purchased an Easter lily from a nearby nursery or grocery store, it will come with potting soil, but if you need to re-pot it or plant it outside, Easter lilies thrive in well-draining soil that's slightly acidic and rich in organic matter.
Water Frequently
During Easter lilies’ growth period, it's important to water them consistently. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Watering early in the day allows the leaves to dry out before night, reducing the risk of mildew.
Find the Right Temperature
Easter lilies thrive in mild temperatures, which is generally around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime and 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. To keep your perennial happy, place it far away from radiators and vents, which can dry out your plant.
Use a Good Fertilizer
To help your Easter lily reach its full potential, finding the right fertilizer is key. In early spring, as the buds begin to appear, opt for a fertilizer that’s high in phosphorus, which is crucial for the development of vibrant blooms.
Prune the Plant Sparingly
Easter lilies require minimal pruning, but they’ll benefit from a fresh cut whenever you spot spent flowers. With a pair of sharp pruning shears, snip off any faded bits like dry or dead blooms and brown foliage mid-season, so the Easter lily can use its energy wisely. If your lily’s stems become too tall or leggy, you can trim them down, but be sure to leave enough green so the plant can keep growing strong. Once the petals are finished sprouting, you can cut back the whole stem to soil level.
How to Propagate an Easter Lily
Once your Easter lily has finished growing and has started to fade, you can propagate the plant to grow more of these beautiful flowers. To propagate an Easter lily, carefully dig up the bulb, removing any remaining soil, before gently separating the main bulb from the smaller bulbs growing around it. Plant the baby bulbs (root side down) in fresh soil in a spot that gets six or more hours of direct daily sunlight. In a few years, they’ll grow into full lilies, ready to bloom and add more beauty to your garden!
How to Repot an Easter Lily
When the flower is finished blooming and the leaves have died, in addition to propagating your Easter lily, another alternative is repotting it—a process that’ll refresh the soil and give its roots more room to thrive. After digging up the bulb, remove any damaged roots and the smaller bulbs growing around it. Place the main bulb in a pot that’s slightly larger than its current pot (one or two inches bigger in diameter) with fresh, well-draining soil, and put it in a bright spot inside your home.
Common Problems With Easter Lilies
While Easter lilies are relatively easy to maintain, there are a few problems that gardeners tend to face when caring for them. By being aware of these issues, you’ll be able to spot and resolve them more quickly.
Yellowing Leaves
While yellowing leaves might seem like a major concern, it’s easily preventable and treatable. Typically, discoloration is a sign that your Easter lily isn’t getting enough water. To sufficiently hydrate your plant, water it whenever the top inch of soil is dry.
Stunted Growth
Another common problem with Easter lilies is stunted growth. If your Easter lily isn’t blooming properly, it might be due to poor soil quality, insufficient sunlight, or disease. To avoid this issue, fertilize your Easter lily every two to four weeks, and scope out a well-lit spot for the flower to live.
Pollen Staining
The yellow anthers in the center of Easter lilies release sticky pollen that stains surfaces. To prevent the yellow substance from staining the petals or your clothes or furniture, simply pluck them with tweezers, scissors, or your fingers. As a win-win, this will also help the bloom last longer!
Pet Toxicity
Unfortunately, Easter lilies are toxic to pets, especially cats. Just a few leaves or a small amount of ingested pollen is all it takes to cause severe kidney failure. Keep this plant away from your fur babies, or skip it altogether if you have a nibbler! If you suspect that your pet has licked or ingested any part of the Easter lily plant, call your vet immediately.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
