The Lilly Flower and It’s Beautiful History, Care, and Symbolism
The Lilly flower has captivated many civilizations and cultures over the many decades. In many countries, it has become an emblem and continues to amaze us in our modern world.
Besides, the name has taken two spellings. The actual correct spelling is “Lily,” which comes from the word, “Lilium,” the genus of this flower. However, many also spell this flower name, “lilly,” with two “L’s.”
The Lilly is a beautiful flower with majestic petals, vibrant colors, vigorous growth, and magnificent flowering. The flower is elegant and stunning. The gorgeous Lilly stands out not only by its incomparable aesthetics, but also by its particularly rich symbolism. An emblem of French history and a ubiquitous symbol in Christian iconography, the flower has many meanings over the centuries.
In this article, we are going to learn more about the beautiful Lilly including the following:
- Description of the flower
- Lilly flower: a royal history in France
- Planting
- Care and maintenance
- Propagation and growth
- Symbolism
- Interesting facts
Description of the Flower
The Lilly is a perennial herb with a bulb, belonging to the genus Lilium, which has many species and hybrids. The majestic flowers are divinely scented and offer a wide variety of colors, from the purest white to dark red, including yellow, pink, mauve, orange. Very easy to cultivate, the Lilly seduces with its spectacular flowering and its multiple colors. The flower can be spotted or speckled in some hybrids, and almost all of them have an intoxicating scent.
Lilly Flower: A Royal History in France
According to Greek mythology, the Lilly was born from a drop of milk from the breast of Hera, a goddess of Olympus. Representing Mary, the biblical virgin, the flower became the symbol of virginity.
A recurring symbol on works of art or French historical monuments, the Lilly has a room in French history. There is a good reason for this, as its appearance dates back to the 9th century, when the scepter of the King of France, Charles-le-Chauve, was decorated with this gorgeous flower. The Lilly is positioned as an essential heraldic ornament, displayed on all supports: money, monuments, tapestries, fabrics, sculptures, statues, paintings.
In 1376, Charles V adorned the coat of arms of the French crown with three Lilly flowers.
The three lilies evoke the Holy Trinity. In other words, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which sit beside the three theological virtues (faith, hope, charity).
Planting
If you want to plant lilies in the garden, you should start in spring or fall. Planting in summer affects the bulbs because of the heat and lack of water.
Flowering takes place from June to September. If you have it in your garden, then you should already have beautiful and colorful flowers.
For planting lilies, the quality of the soil and the location in the garden are highly crucial. The right place can determine a beautiful flowering and proper growth for the plant.
We recommend planting the bulbs in a reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. Calcareous earth can present a problem for the development of the plant. If you want beautiful flowers, a sunny location is essential.
Dig holes about 10-15 cm deep. You can plant up to 4 or 5 bulbs per hole. Separate them at least 15 cm apart. For the lilies, proper planting ensures constant watering and maintenance.
Care and Maintenance
After choosing the right location for your Lilly bulbs, your plants should not need much maintenance.
As the flowering progresses, remove the dead flowers by cutting under the peduncle.
The Lilly is a plant that requires relatively little maintenance. From year to year, you can fall in love with the charm of this beautiful flower.
We strongly recommend for you to water in case of drought or scorching weather. Regarding lilies planted in the ground, annual maintenance is necessary. Fertilizers can be beneficial to stimulate flowering.
When growing in pots, it is advisable to add fertilizer for bulb flowers starting from the second year of flowering.
Propagation and Growth
Propagation occurs spontaneously in certain species: small bulbils appear around the bulb, but you can divide them. For other species, we can propagate by using cuttings from bulb scales in winter or at the beginning of spring.
The outer scales are removed and planted over half their height in a mixture of potting soil and vermiculite. After a light watering, the terrine is covered with a plastic film and placed in the heat (19-20 ° C) and the dark for at least five weeks. Bulbils should then develop.
Symbolism
The language of flowers is essential when offering a bouquet without referring to a historical symbolism. Indeed, the white Lilly symbolizes purity, innocence, and virginity. The beautiful white color always adorns churches but also wedding ceremonies. The flower is also a symbol of pure love, the nobility of feelings, and, most importantly, the marital union.
The Lilly also represents death to illustrate the purification of the deceased’s soul before joining paradise. It is associated with the feeling of serenity after sorrow.
Apart from white, the Lilly is adorned with other colors and symbols: yellow stands for friendship, orange symbolizes desire, red for passion, and pink sends a message of affection and tenderness.
Interesting Facts
In France, the Lilly covered many buildings, royal clothes, works of art, etc. It was ubiquitous for a few centuries until the Revolution.
The Egyptians, like the Assyrians, represented it on a certain number of everyday objects, religious or royal.
According to the Hebrews, the Lilly decorated the crown of Solomon.
For the Persians, the Lilly symbolized spiritual fertility: it adorned the scepter of Gaos, commander of the Persian fleet under the king Artaxercès, like the helmets of the Royal Army.
The crusaders, the Merovingians, and many others associated it with power itself.
The Lilly has many medicinal uses and decorative qualities. The plant served as a healing and antiseptic dressing. The flower was also kept in oil to treat burns and chapped skin.
The flower has a very ancient origin and a rich history. An ultimate royal symbol, it quickly became the emblem of the French monarchy with Mary the Virgin. The flower refers to purity, innocence, and virginity.
