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The Essence of Easter, The Easter Lily
by W.Holidays

Common Name: Easter Lily
Scientific Name: Lilium longiforum

 It is uncertain how the Easter lily became associated with the holiday. They are native to southern Japan on the islands of the Liu-Chiu Archipelago where they grow wild on the rocky sea coast. Easter lilies were first collected in 1777 by Carl Peter Thunberg who sent the bulbs to England in the early 1800s. By 1930 the bulbs were a regular import to the United States.

It is only in North America that these flowers are specifically cultivated for Easter. This tradition began even before the bulbs were a common import. It is peculiar that these lilies are so commonly associated with Easter as wild lilies bloom in the middle to late summer and not early spring.

To keep your Easter lilies blooming and growing longer:

• Pick a plant that has dark green leaves and stems all the way down to the pot.

• Choose a plant with one or two open flowers and lots of buds.

• Place in indirect light and in a room that doesn't get too hot. The best temperature is around 62F.

• To make the blooms last longer, snip out the yellow anthers once the flower opens.