The colorful blossoms of lilies (family Liliaceae) fill borders and gardens with vibrant color but are toxic to cats. If you love lilies, there are many other flowers that look like lilies that add color and texture to the landscape. Whether choosing for color, size, bloom time, or your U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone, plant them where they receive the appropriate amount of sun and water so you can enjoy them through their entire blooming season.
Lilies are treasured for their graceful, trumpet-shaped blooms and sweet scent. However, not every flower referred to as a “lily” belongs to the true lily family Lilaceae. Numerous imposters closely mimic true lilies despite being unrelated. Let’s learn about some popular flowers often mistaken for lilies to expand our horticultural knowledge.
Why the Confusion Exists
Several factors cause the mix-up between real lilies and lily lookalikes
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Similar appearance – Many imposter lilies share the same elegant, curved petals or speckled throats as true lilies. Some like daylilies and calla lilies strongly resemble their Lilium cousins.
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Common names – Giving plants “lily” in their common name implies a lily connection. But common names can mislead.
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Former classification – In the past, some current imposters like daylilies were classified as lilies taxonomically before reclassification. Old habits persist.
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Marketing – Using “lily” to promote flowers capitalizes on the popularity and familiarity of lilies even if technically incorrect
Identifying True Lily Characteristics
To spot true lilies, look for these distinguishing traits:
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Trumpet-shaped blooms with 6 petals (3 sets of inner and outer petals).
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Long stamens with large anthers protruding inside the flowers.
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Grow from a bulb or rhizome.
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Slender leaves often arranged in whorls around stems.
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Usually have a light, sweet floral scent.
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Belong to the family Lilaceae.
Some true lily examples include Asiatic hybrids, Oriental types, Madonna lilies, and calla lilies.
Common Lily Impersonators
Now let’s overview 9 frequently confused flowers and why they aren’t true lilies:
1. Daylilies
Daylilies produce flowers remarkably similar to lilies but have just 3 petals and lack the long stamens of Lilium. They belong to their own plant family, Hemerocallidaceae.
2. Calla Lilies
Despite their name, callas are not lilies but rather members of the Araceae family. Their lack of true petals (they have a specialized leaf called a spathe) gives this away.
3. Canna Lilies
Cannas have exotic lily-like blooms but are actually in the Cannaceae family. Giveaways include their staminodes instead of petals and banana-like foliage.
4. Lily of the Valley
While lovely, lily of the valley’s dangling white bells look nothing like a true lily. This plant belongs to the Convallariaceae family.
5. Trout Lilies
Dainty trout lily flowers resemble lilies but have just 6 tepals instead of defined petals/sepals. They are members of the Liliaceae family but a different genus than Lilium.
6. Water Lilies
Though their name says lily, aquatic water lilies are not true lilies. They are Nymphaeaceae family members with radial, symmetrical blooms.
7. Peace Lilies
The white flag-like flowers and “lily” name are misleading. Peace lilies are aroids belonging to the Araceae family.
8. Lilies of the Nile
Agapanthus flowers look like blue lily blossoms on tall stems but they are monocots in the Alliaceae family.
9. Peruvian Lilies
Peruvian lilies (alstroemeria) are actually not even monocots like true lilies. Their 3-petaled blooms belie their placement in the Alstroemeriaceae family.
Growing Gorgeous Non-Lily Lilies
Once you understand which flowers are true lilies and which are clever copycats, you can cultivate a diverse collection of stunning blooms. Broaden your horticultural horizons and enjoy the splendor of both real lilies and their lookalike cousins. With proper growing conditions, these exotic yet easy beauties will flourish. Any garden is fortunate to host their elegant allure and vivid diversity.
Canna Family (Cannaceae)
The canna lilies (Canna spp.) are a group of flowering rhizomes that thrive in USDA zones 7 through 10, depending on the species and cultivar. These brightly flowering plants grow from 18 inches to 8 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. Colorful flowers ranging from pale yellow to brilliant yellow, orange, and burgundy and wide green to bronzed leaves give the garden a tropical flair. While often called “lilies,” cannas are not in the lily family and more closely resemble iris flowers than traditional lily species.
Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae)
The amaryllis family features a number of species and cultivars that resemble lilies, and many are also toxic to cats, dogs, and humans, so use caution where you plant the bulbs. Among these lilylike plants is the belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna), also known as the naked lady lily and resurrection lily. The pink trumpet-shaped flowers are similar to the white flowers of the well-known Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum). These large, pink-flowering “lilies” are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, while Easter lilies prefer USDA zones 5 through 11.
Like the belladonna lily, the red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) and Guernsey lily (Nerine bowdenii) produce their showy, trumpet-shaped blossoms in mid to late summer, followed by strap-shaped leaves that die back in spring. Both species feature extra-long, spiderlike stamens with flowers ranging from white to yellow to pink, red, or burgundy depending on the cultivar. Red spider lilies produce their 3- to 6-inch-wide flowers in USDA zones 6 through 10, while Guernsey lilies feature smaller 1- to 3-inch-wide blossoms in USDA zones 8 through 10. More Like This
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus) is also a member of the amaryllis family, hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. The clusters of white, blue, or purple funnel-shaped flowers rise above the mound of grasslike foliage. A number of hybrids are available, ranging from 18-inch-tall dwarf plants to 4-foot-tall cultivars.
15 Most Unique Flowers
FAQ
What flowers are mistaken for lilies?
Alstroemeria is often mistaken for miniature lilies; its trumpet-shaped blossoms each have three true petals and three matching sepals, giving the appearance of a six-petaled blossom. Together, these matching sets are called tepals.
What plant looks like a lily but isn’t?
How about this daylily, Hemerocallis sp.? It looks rather lily-like but looks can be deceiving! It isn’t a lily at all! It’s a member of the Hemerocallidaceae family of plants.
What is the name of the flower that looks like a lily?
Alstroemeria (/ˌælstrɪˈmɪəriə/), commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alstroemeriaceae.
How do you take care of a calla lily?
- Indoor: Calla lilies thrive in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
- Outdoor: They prefer partial sun, especially in hotter climates, where they can benefit from afternoon shade.
- Signs of insufficient light: Pale or stretching leaves.