Lilies require careful coordination between growers, wholesalers and retailers to ensure they look their best and have the longest possible vase life.
With its vibrant coloring and open shape, ‘Zelmira’, an Oriental Trumpet lily, captivated the crowd at SAF Orlando 2022 in September, winning both “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice” in the Society of American Florists’ Outstanding Varieties Competition. In the latest issue of Floral Management, the grower behind the winner, Oregon Flowers’ Martin Meskers, AAF, explains what it takes to make lilies look their best.
Lilies require careful coordination between growers, wholesalers and retailers to ensure they open and color properly and have the longest possible vase life for the consumer. “The most important thing a florist can do is work with their wholesaler or grower to ensure the lilies are harvested at the right stage and shipped quickly in the cold chain,” Meskers says.
Lilies are cut during the bud stage, with slight variations based on variety and time of year. “Lilies cut when buds are too tight won’t open properly and might have faded colors,” Meskers says. “Lilies cut too late are likely to bloom before they reach consumers.”
To avoid falling into either category, communicate with suppliers to make sure you receive lilies with just enough time to let them start blooming in the shop for use in designs. “It can also be helpful for florists to know when the lilies were harvested to determine how long they can be held before their appearance and vase life diminishes,” Meskers says.
For more information, including how to process lilies when they arrive at your shop, read the Quality column in the November/December issue of Floral Management.
Katie Vincent is the senior contributing editor for the Society of American Florists.
