Lilies are large, elegant flowers that come in many bright colors like orange, pink, white, yellow, and red. They have big petals that open wide like a star and often have a very sweet perfume you can smell from far away! Lilies have been loved by people for thousands of years, and ancient artists painted pictures of them on walls and vases. There are about 100 different kinds of true lilies in the world. Lily bulbs can be as big as your fist, and each one stores enough energy underground to send up a tall stem with many beautiful flowers on it.
Some lilies have tiny spots and speckles on their petals that look like adorable freckles, and these are called tiger lilies! Lilies are very popular in gardens and in flower bouquets for special occasions like birthdays and weddings. Each lily flower has six petals and six tall, thin parts called stamens that are covered in powdery pollen. Be careful though, because lily pollen can stain your clothes orange or yellow if you brush against it! Lilies grow back year after year from their bulbs, getting a little bigger and producing even more flowers each time. Some lily plants can grow over six feet tall, which means they might be taller than your mom or dad!
