The large flowers have three petals along with three petal-like sepals, often fragrant, and come in a range of colours ranging through whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds, purples, bronze and even nearly black. Markings include spots, brush strokes and picotees. The plants are summer flowering. Most species are deciduous, but Lilium candidum bears a basal rosette of leaves for much of the year. Flowers are formed at the top of a single erect stem, with leaves being borne at intervals up the stem.
Some lilies, especially Lilium longiflorum, as well as a few other hybrids, form important cut flower crops; for instance, L. longiflorum
Cut stems at 45 degrees and place in water which has had flower feed dissolved into it.