Lily. Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers.
They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world.
Most species are native to the northern hemisphere and their range is temperate climates and extends into the subtropics. Many other plants have lily in their common names, but do not belong to the same genus and are therefore not true lilies.
Lilies are tall perennials ranging in height from 2-6 ft. They form naked or tunicless scaly underground bulbs which are their organs of perennation. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found.
Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are buried deep in the ground, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out adventitious roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb. The flowers are large, often fragrant, and come in a wide range of colors including whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. The plants are late spring-or summer-flowering. Flowers are borne in racem