70 passionate growers and their Lilies; they are determined to make more than 350 varieties shine every day. There’s an epic journey before a Lily can enjoy its standing ovation. It starts with forcing the bulbs, where they patiently wait for the first shoots to appear. The length of time required for this process depends on the variety: for Orientals it’s 9 to 19 weeks, for Longiflorum 9 to 16 weeks, and for Asian Hybrids 8 to 16 weeks. Then the bulbs are planted in the soil full of energy, and the grower needs to wait until the Lilies are fully grown and ready for the glorious harvest.
Lilies come in serene shades of white and pink, but also in striking colours such as fiery red, radiant yellow, enchanting purple and vibrant orange. There are varieties with bold stripes, elegant edges or mysterious spots. The flowers, which are shaped like trumpets or pitchers, can have an impressive diameter ranging from 7 to as much as 25 centimetres. Modesty is not in a Lily's vocabulary.
Have you come across them yet? These game changers are rocking the flower world: pollen-free lilies! This is a true feat of smart breeding, completely eliminating the risk of stains on clothes and other surfaces*. Just think: you can now enjoy the breathtaking splendour of these lilies without having to worry about unwanted stains. It's time to take your passion for flowers to an extreme level! Don't wait any longer - embrace these extraordinary varieties and be enchanted by their unparalleled beauty. Get ready for a floral adventure beyond your wildest dreams. Discover the boundless possibilities of these phenomenal creations and take your passion for floriculture to the extreme!
*Pollen stains? Don't rub them! Leave the pollen to dry and remove it with a soft brush, a vacuum cleaner or a piece of adhesive tape.
Lilies don't have run-of-the-mill genes - definitely not! It is those bold bulbs that define the quality of the flower. Growers love fat bulbs, because they contain an abundance of spare food for the plant. The fatter the bulb, the more breathtaking the flower! And as if that was not enough, that quirky bulb also determines whether the Lily will have big or small flowers, thick or thin stems, short or long stems. It all depends on acquiring the right bulbs: that's what it's really all about!
The diversity of Lilies is overwhelming. There’s so much choice in terms of fragrance! Hence Orientals & Oriental Trumpet (OT) offer a very wide palette of scents: from unscented or lightly scented to through to fragrances that fill the room. Because double Lilies are derived from the Orientals, they have the same distinctive light to strong scent. If you are looking for soft, sweet notes, you should opt for the Longiflorum and Longiflorum Oriental (LO) product groups .
All lilies have stamens, but the double-flowered varieties have very limited pollen. Breeding has also produced a limited number of single-flowered varieties without stamens.
Fragrance? The Longiflorum Asiatic & Asiatics (LA & A) lilies are virtually unscented. The perfect choice for customers who are not fond of the scent of lilies.
Stay calm! Definitely don't rub or wet the stain. Get some adhesive tape and remove the pollen (powder) with the sticky side.
All the Dutch growers are supporting the promotional activities. The Love for Lilies promotional collective consists of the 70 Dutch growers who supply their Lilies to the Royal FloraHolland auction.