Casa Blanca Lily Lilium 'Casa Blanca' (Viib/b-c)
ABOUT
The Casa Blanca lily is a striking plant known for its large and showy flowers. This oriental hybrid presents pristine white blossoms that are exceptionally fragrant. Each bloom consists of six broad petals that curl backward slightly, giving the flowers a distinct, elegant trumpet shape. The center of each flower is highlighted by a prominent set of bright yellow stamens, adding a striking contrast to the pure white petals. The lush, glossy green leaves provide a verdant backdrop to the radiant blooms, contributing to the plant's overall lush appearance. The Casa Blanca lily typically blooms in the summer, offering a breathtaking display and a delightful scent that can fill the surrounding air.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Casa Blanca Lily, White Oriental Lily
Common names
Lilium 'Casa Blanca'
ToxicityTo humans
The plant commonly known as the Casa Blanca lily, or simply 'Casa Blanca', is not significantly toxic to humans. However, like many plants, if ingested in large quantities, it could potentially cause mild stomach upset, including symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. Contact with the pollen may cause irritation in individuals with sensitive skin or allergies.
To pets
The Casa Blanca lily is highly toxic to cats. Ingesting even small amounts can cause severe kidney damage in cats, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, and increased urination followed by decreased or no urination in later stages. Without prompt veterinary treatment, the toxicity can lead to kidney failure and death. Dogs are less sensitive, but ingestion can still cause gastrointestinal upset, like vomiting or diarrhea. It is crucial for pet owners to keep Casa Blanca lilies out of reach of their pets, especially cats.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
4 feet (1.2 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.3 meters)
Plant type
Bulb
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
Asia
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: The Casablanca Lily is prized for its large, showy white flowers that can add elegance and beauty to gardens and landscapes.
- Fragrance: It emits a strong, sweet fragrance that can perfume an outdoor space or an indoor area when used in cut flower arrangements.
- Pollinator Attraction: The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects, which are essential for the health of the ecosystem.
- Landscape Design Versatility: The Casablanca Lily can be used in a variety of garden designs, including borders, flower beds, and as a backdrop for lower-growing plants.
- Seasonal Interest: They bloom in the summer, providing a highlight when many spring flowers have faded, helping to sustain the garden's visual interest.
- Cut Flower Gardens: The lilies are ideal for cut flower gardens as they have long stems and a vase life of up to two weeks, making them popular in floral arrangements.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- The petals of Casa Blanca lilies can be used as natural confetti for weddings and celebrations, providing an eco-friendly and fragrant alternative to synthetic materials.
- Casa Blanca lily petals can be pressed and incorporated into handmade paper, adding texture and visual interest to the finished product.
- The stems of Casa Blanca lilies can be used in basketry and weaving crafts, where the fibrous quality adds strength to the creations.
- Lily bulbs, including those of Casa Blanca, can be carved into stamps for decorative purposes, using the unique patterns on the base of the bulb.
- When dried, Casa Blanca lily petals can be used in potpourri mixes, contributing a subtle fragrance and elegant white hue.
- In photography and art, the elegant form of Casa Blanca lilies serves as a muse for still-life compositions and botanical illustrations.
- Casa Blanca lily blooms can be used as a natural dye source for fabrics, yielding delicate pastel colors.
- The strong stems of Casa Blanca lilies are sometimes used in small scale model making, such as architectural models or dioramas, where they replicate exotic trees or shrubs.
- Lily seed pods from Casa Blanca lilies, once dried, can become part of ornamental displays, or used in arts and crafts for their unique shapes and textures.
- Dried Casa Blanca lilies can be crafted into aromatic drawer sachets, imbuing linens and clothing with a light, pleasant scent.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Casablanca Lily can be used in Feng Shui for attracting purity and peace, acting as a symbol of new beginnings or renewal. Place it in areas such as the living room or bedroom to encourage a tranquil and refreshing energy, and ensure it receives ample light without direct sunlight. Additionally, its strong fragrance may promote a sense of comfort and reduce stress in the home environment.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Casablanca Lily is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Purity: The white color of the Casa Blanca lily is often associated with purity and virtue, making it a popular choice for weddings and religious ceremonies.
- Beauty: This variety of lily, with its large, showy flowers, represents exceptional beauty and can be a compliment to someone's attractiveness.
- Renewal: Lilies, in general, are symbolic of rebirth and renewal because they bloom every year, making them appropriate for events celebrating new beginnings.
- Transitions: The Casa Blanca lily can signify major life changes or transitions due to its dramatic presence and the lifecycle of the plant itself.
WaterThe Casa Blanca lily should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry to the touch. This typically means watering once a week, but you may need to adjust frequency depending on temperature and humidity. Use room temperature water and pour it slowly around the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the leaves, until the water starts to run out of the bottom of the pot. A mature Casa Blanca lily may need approximately one to two gallons of water per watering session during the active growing season.
LightCasa Blanca lilies prefer bright, indirect sunlight for best growth. They thrive when placed in a location where they can receive several hours of morning sunlight daily, while being shielded from the harsh afternoon sun. An east-facing window or a spot in the garden that offers dappled shade is ideal for these lilies.
TemperatureCasa Blanca lilies do best in temperature conditions ranging from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate a minimum temperature of no less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum temperature of around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. For optimal blooming, provide a consistent temperature within this ideal range and avoid exposure to temperature extremes.
PruningPruning Casa Blanca lilies involves removing spent flower stems after blooming to encourage healthy growth and potentially additional blooms. Deadhead individual flowers as they fade. After the lily has finished flowering for the season, cut the stalk down to the base in late fall or when the stem turns brown and dies back naturally.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCasa Blanca lilies thrive in well-draining, rich soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. A mix of loamy soil, compost, and perlite or sand is ideal to ensure good drainage and fertility.
RepottingCasa Blanca lilies should be repotted every 3-4 years or when the bulbs outgrow their container. It is best to repot after the flowering season and when the foliage has died back.
Humidity & MistingCasa Blanca lilies prefer moderate humidity levels. The best humidity level for these lilies would typically range from 40% to 60%, avoiding overly dry or excessively moist conditions.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil lightly moist.
Outdoor
Plant in well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleThe life of the 'Casa Blanca' lily, or Oriental lily, begins as a bulb, which is planted in the fall, before the ground freezes. After a winter dormancy period, growth resumes in the spring as the bulb produces stems and leaves, using stored energy from the previous season. By mid to late summer, the lily reaches its flowering stage, where fragrant, large, white flowers bloom and are pollinated by insects, leading to seed formation for those plants that are not sterile. Following flowering, the above-ground portion of the plant begins to yellow and die back, signaling the beginning of the plant's senescence stage. The plant continues to direct energy back into the bulb, which remains dormant underground during winter. This cycle repeats annually, with bulbs potentially dividing to produce new plants, thus propagating the lily.
PropogationPropogation time
Early spring
Propogation: Lilium 'Casa Blanca', commonly known as the Casa Blanca lily, is typically propagated through a method called scaling. This process involves removing a few scales from a mature bulb, which are then planted in a well-draining soil mix and covered with a thin layer of sand or vermiculite to encourage rooting. The scales require a warm, humid environment to develop tiny bulblets at their base. It is necessary to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. After about 12 weeks, the new bulblets should be ready to be planted individually. They usually flower in two to three years when propagated by this method. Scaling takes advantage of the lily's natural ability to produce new bulbs from the fleshy scales that make up the main bulb, allowing for the propagation of many plants from a single bulb.
