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Oriental Lilies. Simple, Perfumed-Charged Perennial Monocots.

Adding Simplicity, Elegance, Style And Perfume To Any Garden.

Oriental Lilies are Monocots. They belong to the group of plants known as Lilium. Liliums are herbaceous plants which are grown from bulbs.They have elegant, large, showy flowers. There are about 110 species in the Lilium family (Liliaceae). Most are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but they certainly can grow in sub-tropical regions.

They are wonderful garden plants and, of course, as cut flowers are always on our shopping list because of their incredible perfume. I know the White Stargazer has more perfume, but it's the pink I go for. It's so delicate. A few species have edible bulbs. The Liliums are true Lilies, whereas some flowers have 'Lily' in their common name but are not genuine Lilies.

The Stargazer Lily is a hybrid of the Oriental group, grown by crossing different types of lilies from Asia. The Stargazer Lily was created in 1978 by Leslie Woodriff from California. It was called Stargazer because the blooms always faced towards the sky.

They are known for their beautiful perfume and are easy to grow - in full sunlight.They grow fast in well-drained loamy or sandy soil. They can grow to a height of 36 inches and will spread to 12 or 16 inches with 4 to 5 flowers on each stem. (Now that I would like to see).  Just like roses, they need from 4 - 6 hours of sun daily, and if in a hotter climate, then they will need partial shade. 

They grow well here in Southeast Queensland, so even though they prefer temperate climates, they are still be able to tough it out.

Known for its striking white, red, and pink petals, and heavenly scent, the Oriental Lily has become a favorite for many occasions.

The RSPCA reports this plant as being toxic to cats. They are said to cause vomiting, (lack of appetite), lethargy, kidney failure, and even death. Cats are the only species known to be affected.

As you can see, Orientals are examples of 'Perfect Flowers'. They have both male and female reproductive parts clearly displayed. We can see the stigma and style which lead to the Receptacle (containing the Ovary and ovules). And we can see the Stamens (the male parts) comprised of the Anther and the little stalks (the Filaments).

We can also tell that this flower is a Monocot because it has six petals. The leaves are not evident in this photo. The Cotyledons also contain the nutrients for the growing embryonic seedling. Just in case you need a reminder about Monocots and Dicots, here is the table again comparing the two:

The Difference Between Monocots and Dicots.

Oriental Lilies. Hybrids.

Oriental 'Casa Blanca'. Divine.

Oriental 'Broadway'.

'Dizzy'.

'Black Out'.

Glorious Rose Pink.

The Frangipani Is A Dicot Flower.

Answer to the Frangipani Question: It's a Dicot. It has parallel veins, but they do branch out from a central vein.  Also, the Frangipani Flower has five petals.  Great work!

Home. Return from Oriental Lilies to Parts of a Flower.