King Pete Lily Lilium 'King Pete' (Ib/b-c)

Names

• Family

  Liliaceae

• Synonyms

  King Pete Lily, Oriental Trumpet Lily

• Common names

  Lilium 'King Pete'

Toxicity

• To humans

  The Lilium 'King Pete', commonly known as a lily, can be toxic to humans if ingested, especially certain parts like the bulb. Ingesting parts of the lily can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If a large quantity is consumed, it can lead to more severe symptoms including heart rhythm disturbances, kidney failure, or even death. It is important to keep lilies out of reach of children who might ingest parts of the plant.

• To pets

  Lilies are highly toxic to cats; even small amounts can cause severe kidney damage. If a cat ingests any part of a lily, symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite can develop within a few hours. Without prompt treatment, kidney failure can occur within 24 to 72 hours, which can be fatal. Dogs are less sensitive but may still experience mild symptoms of gastrointestinal upset if they ingest lily parts. It is crucial for pet owners to ensure that lilies are kept away from pets, especially cats, to prevent accidental poisoning.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  Mixed

• Height

  3 feet 36 inches (91 cm)

• Spread

  1 foot 12 inches (30 cm)

• Plant type

  Bulb

• Hardiness zones

  Varies

• Native area

  Asia

General Benefits

• Ornamental Appeal: Its striking flowers, often vibrant and large, enhance the visual aesthetics of gardens, landscapes, and indoor spaces.
• Landscape Versatility: Suitable for borders, focal points, or as part of a mixed bed, adapting well to various landscape designs.
• Cut Flower Usage: The durability and beauty of its blossoms make it a popular choice for floral arrangements and bouquets.
• Ease of Care: Generally low maintenance, requiring basic gardening care such as watering and occasional fertilization.
• Pollinator Attraction: It can attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators that support the ecosystem.
• Seasonal Interest: Provides seasonal interest with its flowering period, adding splashes of color during blooming seasons.
• Variety of Colors: Comes in various colors, which allows for a wide range of design and color scheme options in gardening.
• Propagates Easily: Can be propagated through bulbs, allowing gardeners to expand their plantings or share with others.
• Perennial Growth: As a perennial, it will return each year, offering a long-lasting addition to the garden with proper care.

Medical Properties

This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• Lilium 'King Pete', also known as the Oriental lily, can be used as a pigment source, where its petals are crushed to produce natural colorants for artistic purposes.
• The sturdy stems of the Oriental lily can be incorporated into floral crafts, such as homemade wreaths or natural weavings, to add structure and an exotic flair.
• Oriental lilies can be used in photography as a captivating subject or to enhance the aesthetic of portrait backgrounds with their prominent and colorful blooms.
• The petals of Oriental lilies can be used to create biodegradable confetti or table scatter for eco-friendly celebrations and weddings.
• The bright, large flowers of the Oriental lily are suitable as natural dyes for fabric, giving textiles a unique and soft hue when used in the dyeing process.
• Pressed lily flowers can be used to embellish handmade paper, adding a floral touch to invitations, stationery, or bookmarks.
• Oriental lily blooms can be carefully dried and used to create botanical art pieces or to add a three-dimensional aspect to paintings and mixed media art.
• The strong, pleasant fragrance of Oriental lilies can be infused into candles or potpourri to naturally perfume indoor environments.
• The large, trumpet-shaped flowers of the Oriental lily can serve as natural bowls for floral arrangements or as part of a table centerpiece when stabilized with floral foam.
• When placed strategically in a garden, the vibrant Oriental lily can serve as an indicator plant, helping gardeners to monitor pest activity or the effects of changing environmental conditions.

Feng Shui

The plant Lily is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The plant Lily is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Purity: Lilies are commonly associated with purity, owing to their delicate and often white flowers that have historically symbolized innocence and chastity.
• Renewal: The lily often symbolizes renewal and rebirth because it returns with beautiful blooms each year and is one of the first flowers to sprout in spring.
• Passion: Some lily varieties can represent passion, especially those with deep red or vibrant orange colors that evoke intense emotions.
• Transitions: Lilies are frequently used in funerals and in association with passing, thereby symbolizing life transitions and the soul's return to innocence.
• Femininity: The lily's graceful form is often connected with femininity and the different aspects of womanhood, also because of the Greek myth where Hera’s milk created the Milky Way and lilies.
• Beauty: The lily's universally admired beauty makes it a symbol of physical and spiritual beauty, sometimes associated with the goddess Venus or Hera.
• Wealth and Prosperity: Some cultures believe that lilies can bring good luck and symbolize wealth and prosperity, possibly because their full, round flowers are visually abundant.