What Do Lily Colors Mean? Symbolism of the Elegant Flower

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Learn the meanings behind different lily colors and types

Co-authored by Pilar Zuniga and Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: May 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Lily Color Meanings
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• Asiatic vs Oriental Lilies
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• Lilies for Different Occasions
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• History

|Show more |Show less

Lilies are classic, timeless flowers. Cultivated for millennia, they’ve garnered a rich history of symbolic meanings. If you recently received lilies or want to gift a bouquet to somebody else, it helps to learn the meaning behind each color. Keep reading for a guide to what each color of lily represents, along with common types of lilies, what occasions each color is suited for, and the fascinating history behind the famous flowers.

Lily Color Symbolism: Overview

1. White Lily: Purity, Innocence, Rebirth
2. Yellow Lily: Happiness, Friendship, Healing
3. Pink Lily: Admiration, Abundance, Joy
4. Red Lily: Passion, Love, Courage
5. Orange Lily: Enthusiasm, Honesty, Happiness
6. Purple Lily: Royalty, Success, Pride
7. Black Lily: Mystery, Power

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Section 1 of 4:

Lily Colors and Meanings

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   White Lily: Purity, Innocence, Rebirth Like the color white itself, white lilies are universally associated with purity and innocence. This symbolism makes them a frequent choice for bridal bouquets. White lilies are also associated with rebirth, making them a staple of sympathy and condolence bouquets.

   • Types of white lilies: Easter, Madonna, Casa Blanca, Calla, Golden-rayed
   • The Bible mentions the lily flower several times, strengthening the flower’s association with purity, rebirth, and hope. Examples include Hosea 14:5, 2 Chronicles 4:5, and Matthew 6:28-29.
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   Yellow Lily: Happiness, Friendship, Healing Yellow lilies have a cheerful hue that brightens any garden or floral arrangement. The sunny flowers represent happiness, friendship, and healing. If you’re looking for a flower to gift your best friend or to cheer up someone who’s been in poor health, choose the yellow lily.

   • Types of yellow lilies: Citronella, Connecticut King, Goldsmith, King Pete, Beau Soleil
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   Pink Lily: Admiration, Abundance, Joy Pink lilies have an abundance of meanings—including abundance itself. Besides representing prosperity, the feminine florals are also associated with admiration and joy. Their symbolism makes them a popular pick for Mother’s Day bouquets.

   • Types of pink lilies: Stargazer, Pink Perfection, Pink Tiger, Lollipop, Siberian
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   Red Lily: Passion, Love, Courage It’s no surprise that red lilies are associated with love. Their rich, romantic hue is a definitive symbol of passion and desire. Additionally, red lily flowers are said to represent courage. Gift them on Valentine’s Day for a twist on the traditional rose bouquet, or present them to your partner on your anniversary for a sweet sentiment.

   • Types of red lilies: Black Out, Monte Negro, Gran Paradiso, Red Velvet, Scheherazade
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   Orange Lily: Enthusiasm, Honesty, Happiness The vibrant hues of orange lilies have earned them many symbolic meanings, including an enthusiastic energy for life, the virtue of honesty, and happiness. If you want to encourage someone who’s facing a daunting task or celebrate a loved one’s victory, present them with a bright bouquet of orange lilies.

   • Types of orange lilies: Tiger Lilies, Easy Love, Orange Ton, African Queen, Enchantment, Regent’s Park
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   Purple Lily: Royalty, Success, Pride The color purple has historic ties to royalty because it was a difficult color to obtain naturally, making it a luxury reserved for nobility. Purple lilies bear the same symbolism, along with connotations of success and pride. These elegant flowers are ideal for celebrations of milestones and hard-won accomplishments.

   • Types of purple lilies: Nodding Lily, Souvenir, Purple Prince, Purple Dream, Purple Lady
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   Black Lily: Mystery, Power Black lilies are uncommon, and most aren’t true black but a deep shade of red or purple. Unlike other lilies, their symbolism carries a dark air of mystery and power. These flowers shouldn’t be gifted on positive occasions. In decorative arrangements or planted in gardens, however, black lilies offer a striking contrast to the usual spring blooms.

   • Types of black lilies: Black Jewel, Persian Lily, Midnight Mystery, Landini, Forever Susan (hybrid), Night Rider
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   Blue Lily: Faith, Loyalty, Spirituality Blue lilies are not true lilies—they don’t belong to the Lilium genus—but they resemble them and take their common name. These pseudo-lilies carry associations with faith and loyalty (like the saying “true blue”), as well as spiritual awareness.

   • Types of blue lilies: Blue Lily of the Nile, Electric Blue Spider Lily
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Section 2 of 4:

Asiatic vs Oriental Lilies

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1. 1
   Asiatic lilies bloom earlier than Oriental lilies. Asiatic lilies usually bloom in late spring and early summer, up to July. Oriental lilies, meanwhile, bloom later in the summer—around August and September.

   • Popular Asiatic lilies: Royal Sunset, Forever Linda, Mapira
   • Popular Oriental lilies: Stargazer, Salmon Star, Casablanca
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   Oriental lily flowers are fragrant, while Asiatic lilies aren’t. Oriental lilies have a strong, fragrant aroma. While the exact scent depends on the type of flower, most people describe the fragrance as spicy—hinting at vanilla and cloves—with a touch of citrus, or woody and vaguely sweet. Asiatic lilies have a subtle lemony scent, but it’s not as prominent as that of Oriental flowers.
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   Asiatic lily plants are shorter than Oriental ones. Oriental lily plants can be up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, requiring stakes or other supports. Asiatic lilies, meanwhile, only grow to around half that height. Regardless of their differences, both varieties have beautiful cultivars with rich symbolic meanings.
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Section 3 of 4:

What Lilies to Use on Different Occasions

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   For wedding bouquets, use white, pink, or orange lilies. If you want a classic bridal bouquet, choose an all-white arrangement featuring calla lilies or Lily of the Valley flowers. For a bolder touch, incorporate bright pink and orange lilies such as stargazers, tiger lilies, and pink gloriosas.

   • While lilies can stand alone, pair them with other flowers to vary your bouquet’s texture and color palette. Lilies pair well with roses, orchids, and peonies. They also work with a simple medley of greenery or filler like baby’s breath.
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   For funerals, choose any variety of white lilies. Lilies are the most popular flowers used at funerals. White lilies in particular are traditional funeral flowers because they symbolize purity, innocence, and rebirth. Choose a variety like the Easter lily, the Madonna lily, or the calla lily to extend sympathy to grieving loved ones and honor a lost life.
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   For Valentine’s Day, opt for red or pink lilies. Show your passion and gratitude for your partner with a romantic bouquet of red and pink lilies. Choose to gift a bunch in one color or blend the two for a more meaningful arrangement. Popular varieties include gran paradiso lilies, black out lilies, stargazers, and pink perfection lilies.
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Section 4 of 4:

History of Lily Flowers

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1. 1
   Lilies have been cultivated since the 2nd millennium BCE. It’s one of the first plants ever to be cultivated, which explains how it’s picked up so many associations over the years. Its earliest uses were medicinal and culinary. In more recent history, ancient Greeks and Romans also used lilies in medicine and to decorate landscapes.

   • In Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite is said to have cursed the lily with a pistil, offended by the flower’s purity.
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   The Madonna lily is associated with the Virgin Mary. Paintings from the Middle Ages show the Virgin Mary holding or adorned with lily flowers, symbolizing purity and innocence. Christian lore suggests Mary’s tomb was covered in lilies three days after her passing.

   • Lilies are mentioned throughout the Bible as symbols of purity and beauty. One example is Matthew 6:28-29, part of the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus uses the lilies of the field as an analogy for how God will provide for His followers.
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   In Ancient Egypt, lilies symbolized fertility. In contrast to their traditional association with purity, lilies represented fertility and rebirth in Ancient Egypt. The flowers can be found drawn onto Egyptian tombs. There’s also evidence that women in Ancient Egypt created perfumes from the lily flowers, particularly the white water lily.
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   In Chinese culture, lilies symbolize harmony and commitment. Specifically, the flowers are associated with the sentiment of “a hundred years of love” (百年好合). Lilies may be present at weddings or anniversary celebrations.
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