Russian Lily: The Wild Species, What Lilies Mean in Russia and How to Keep Them

"Russian lily" usually means one of the wild lilies native to Russia: the martagon or Turk's cap lily (known locally as saranka), the scarlet coral lily of Siberia (Lilium pumilum) and the Daurian lily (Lilium dauricum) of Siberia and the Far East. In everyday Russian life, though, the lily people actually give is the large, fragrant cut lily of the florist's shop - white, pink or cream Oriental and Asiatic hybrids, which are among the most popular flowers in Russian bouquets.

Below we look at both sides: the wild species you may have seen in a Siberian meadow or a botanical book, and the cut lilies that end up on a Russian birthday table. You will also find what a lily says in a Russian bouquet, when it is the right choice and when it is better avoided, and how to keep lilies fresh for a week or more.

The wild lilies of Russia

The best-known wild species is the martagon lily, Lilium martagon. It grows from Central Europe across the Urals into Siberia and Mongolia, in birch woods and forest edges. The flowers are small, dusky pink to purple with darker spots, and the petals curl back sharply, which gives it the English name Turk's cap. A strong plant can carry twenty or more nodding flowers on one stem. In Russia it has long been called saranka, and its bulbs were once dug and eaten by people in Siberia.

The coral lily, Lilium pumilum, is the bright one: a slender stem with glossy scarlet flowers, also with curled-back petals. It grows on dry, sunny slopes in southern Siberia, the Altai and the Far East, and gardeners love it because it is hardy and blooms early in summer. The Daurian lily, Lilium dauricum (also listed as Lilium pensylvanicum), has upward-facing orange-red cups with dark freckles and is common in the meadows of eastern Siberia and the Amur region.

These wild lilies are garden and meadow plants, not cut flowers. They are protected in several Russian regions, and you will not find them in a bouquet: their stems are thin and the flowers are small compared with florist varieties. If someone asks you for a Russian lily as a gift, they almost always mean a bouquet of cultivated lilies.

Lilies in Russian bouquets

Cut lilies are a staple of Russian floristry. The most common are Oriental hybrids with huge, scented white or pink flowers, Asiatic hybrids in yellow, orange and red with little or no scent, and LA hybrids, which sit in between. A single stem usually carries three to six buds, so even five stems make a generous, open bouquet as the buds unfold over several days.

Russians like lilies for big personal occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, a thank-you to a doctor or teacher, a visit to a new mother. White lilies with white roses are a classic for weddings and for women of an older generation, while pink Oriental lilies read as warm and festive. Lilies also mix well with roses, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums and eucalyptus; a florist will often use one or two lily stems as the centre of a mixed bouquet.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 3 white French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 red French roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

Bouquet of 3 pink roses with eucalyptus, 50 cm

$18

What a lily means and when to choose it

In Russian flower language the white lily stands for purity, tenderness and respect, which is why it suits mothers, grandmothers, brides and teachers. Pink and cream lilies say admiration and warmth; orange and yellow Asiatic lilies feel cheerful and energetic, a good choice for a colleague or a friend's birthday. The lily has no romantic charge as strong as red roses, so it is a safe option when you want to express affection without making a declaration.

Two points of etiquette matter. First, in Russia a bouquet for a happy occasion has an odd number of stems; even numbers are kept for funerals and memorials. With lilies, count stems, not individual flowers. Second, white lilies are also used in mourning arrangements, so for a birthday it is nicer to add colour - pink lilies, or white lilies combined with bright roses or greenery - rather than sending an all-white sheaf.

Scent is the other thing to think about. Oriental lilies are strongly fragrant, which many people love, but they can be too much in a small flat, a hospital ward or an office. For someone sensitive to smells, or for a small room, choose Asiatic lilies, which have almost no scent. Lilies are also toxic to cats, even the pollen, so if the recipient has a cat, pick another flower.

How to keep cut lilies fresh

Lilies are one of the longest-lasting cut flowers if you look after them. When the bouquet arrives, cut 2-3 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife, remove any leaves that would sit under water, and put the stems into a clean, tall vase with cool water. Change the water every two days and trim the stems a little each time.

As each flower opens, gently pull off the orange anthers with a tissue. The pollen stains clothes, tablecloths and skin, and removing it also makes the flower last longer. If pollen does land on fabric, do not rub or wet it: shake it off and lift the rest with sticky tape.

Keep the vase away from radiators, direct sun and the fruit bowl, because ripening fruit gives off ethylene, which speeds up wilting. Pick off faded flowers so the remaining buds get the water. With this care a lily bouquet usually stays beautiful for 7-12 days, and the buds that were closed on delivery day open one after another.

How to choose a good lily bouquet

Look at the buds, not only the open flowers. A good lily bouquet arrives with one or two flowers open on each stem and the rest still closed but coloured at the tips; that way the recipient gets a full week of new blooms. Stems that are all fully open look spectacular on day one but fade sooner.

Think about size as well. Oriental lilies have flowers up to 20 cm across, so five stems already make a large bouquet that needs a tall, heavy vase. For a modest gesture, three stems with greenery are perfectly enough; for a jubilee or a wedding anniversary, seven or nine stems, or lilies mixed with roses, look properly festive.

Sending lilies to someone in Russia

If you live abroad and want lilies to reach a mother, a friend or a partner in Russia, you can order them with us online. Browse the bouquets catalogue, choose a bouquet with lilies or ask for one, and pay on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. We deliver across Russia; city delivery costs 500 RUB, and for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.

In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also pick an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes), a time window - 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21 - or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead, which is handy for birthdays and anniversaries. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arriving. If nobody is home, we arrange a second delivery the same day or leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge, with your consent.

A card with your text is free, and delivery is anonymous by default unless you sign the card. If you want to check the lilies before they go out, agree the time and address or work out the wording of the card, message our manager on WhatsApp - we can send you a photo of the bouquet before delivery. Full details are on the delivery and payment page.