Love Story Lily Lilium 'Love Story' (Viia-b/b)
ABOUT
The Lilium 'Love Story', also known as a lily, displays a captivating presence with its beautiful flowers. Characterized by an elegant bloom, each petal of this lily radiates with a soft color, often a blend of cream, pink, or white with hints of another color at the edges, providing a delicate and romantic visual appeal. The petals can sometimes exhibit a gentle curling at their tips, adding to the flower's charm. In the center of each bloom, prominent stamens stretch out, tipped with anthers that may be dusted with pollen. The blooms come together in clusters atop sturdy stalks, surrounded by dark green, lance-shaped leaves that offer a lush backdrop to the ornate flowers. The leaves are arranged in a spiraling whorl around the stem, which adds to the plant's overall aesthetic appeal. The lily's striking flowers and contrasting foliage make it a favorite among garden enthusiasts, often used as a centerpiece in floral arrangements and as a highlight in gardens or landscapes.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Liliaceae
Synonyms
Love Story Lily, Oriental Lily 'Love Story'
Common names
Lilium 'Love Story' (Viia-b/b).
ToxicityTo humans
The plant commonly known as Lily can be toxic to humans if ingested. Although it is generally not considered highly poisonous to humans, some people might experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms if they consume parts of the Lily plant. Symptoms of poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is always best to avoid eating any part of ornamental plants due to the potential for adverse reactions, and Lilies are no exception.
To pets
Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and can cause severe kidney damage. Even small amounts of any part of the plant, including the petals, leaves, pollen, or water from the vase, can lead to acute kidney failure. Symptoms of Lily poisoning in pets, particularly cats, may include vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, and increased urination, followed by a decrease in urination as kidney damage progresses. If a cat consumes any part of a Lily plant, immediate veterinary attention is necessary to prevent potentially fatal consequences. In dogs, Lilies may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, but they do not typically experience the severe kidney effects seen in cats.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
3 feet (91 cm)
Spread
1 foot (30 cm)
Plant type
Bulb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Asia
Benefits
General Benefits- Adds a splash of color: The Lilium 'Love Story' brightens up any garden or landscape with its vibrant flowers.
- Attracts pollinators: Its blossoms can attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which are beneficial for the ecosystem.
- Long blooming period: This plant typically has a long flowering season, which provides prolonged visual interest.
- Easy to care for: It is known for being low maintenance, only requiring basic gardening care.
- Ideal for cut flowers: The long stems and attractive blooms make it perfect for cutting and bringing indoors to enjoy.
- Variety of uses: Can be planted in borders, containers, and as a focal point in floral arrangements.
- Symbolism and gifting: Often associated with love and romance, making it a thoughtful gift.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Prop: The striking features of the 'Love Story' Lily make it an ideal subject for still life photography, adding romantic vibes to the imagery.
- Craft Inspiration: Artists and crafters can use the vibrant petals of the 'Love Story' Lily as a muse for painting, drawing, and creating textile patterns.
- Culinary Decoration: Edible varieties of 'Love Story' Lily petals can be used to adorn dishes and desserts for an elegant presentation.
- Floral Jewelry: Petals from the 'Love Story' Lily can be incorporated into handmade earrings and necklaces for wearable art.
- Wedding Motif: 'Love Story' Lilies can inspire a central theme or color scheme for a romantic wedding setting.
- Perfume Industry: Scent from the 'Love Story' Lily flowers can be captured and used in the creation of floral fragrances.
- Educational Tool: Biology teachers could use the 'Love Story' Lily as a living example to teach plant structure and reproduction.
- Symbolic Gesture: Gifting a 'Love Story' Lily plant can be a symbol of devotion or a way to start a 'love story' with someone special.
- Color Therapy: The hue of the 'Love Story' Lily can be used in color therapy for its calming and uplifting effects.
- Garden Design: These lilies can serve as a focus point in landscape design, drawing attention to select areas in a garden with their bold colors.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Oriental Lily is not specifically used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Oriental Lily is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Purity: The lily, in many cultures, has been regarded as a symbol of purity because of its white and pristine flowers.
- Love: With a name like 'Love Story,' this particular variety of lily denotes romantic love, a common association with lilies due to their beauty and elegance.
- Femininity: Lilies often represent femininity with their delicate and graceful appearance, conveying softness and motherhood in certain contexts.
- Renewal: As some lilies, particularly Easter lilies, are associated with rebirth and resurrection, they symbolize new beginnings and renewal.
- Transcendence: Their trumpeted blooms reaching toward the sky can indicate aspirations of the soul or the achievement of higher states of consciousness.
WaterThe Oriental Lily 'Love Story' prefers to be watered deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Typically, watering once a week with about one gallon of water per plant should suffice, although this may vary based on climate and soil conditions. During active growth periods, such as spring and summer, they may require more frequent watering. Ensure that they're being watered at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can promote disease. Reduce watering in the fall and winter when the plant is dormant. Avoid overwatering as these lilies are prone to rot in too-wet conditions.
LightOriental Lily 'Love Story' thrives best in full sun to partial shade conditions. Ideally, plant them in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Morning sunlight with afternoon shade is preferable in hotter climates to protect the blooms from excessive heat. Reflective surfaces or walls that radiate heat can be detrimental and should be avoided.
TemperatureOriental Lily 'Love Story' can generally tolerate a wide range of temperatures but grows best when daytime temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime temperatures should ideally be cooler, falling between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. These lilies can survive short periods of frost but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the plant.
PruningPrune your Oriental Lily 'Love Story' after flowering by removing spent blooms to prevent seed formation, which can sap energy from the plant. Cut only the dead flower heads and leave the stem and foliage intact to die back naturally. This allows the plant to store energy for the next season. Pruning is typically done annually, during late summer or fall after the flowers have withered.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe Love Story Lily thrives in well-draining soil mixed with organic matter like compost or peat moss; a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5 is ideal for this plant.
RepottingLove Story Lilies generally require repotting every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate growth.
Humidity & MistingLove Story Lilies prefer moderate humidity levels around 40-60% but can tolerate standard indoor conditions.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure bright indirect light, well-draining soil, and moderate humidity.
Outdoor
Plant in well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, shelter from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of Lilium 'Love Story', commonly known as the Oriental Lily, starts with the bulb stage, during which the bulb is dormant and conserves energy for the upcoming growth. As temperatures warm in spring, the emergence stage follows, with the bulb sending up shoots and leaves through the soil. The vegetative stage comes next, where the plant continues to grow both its foliage and stem, photosynthesizing to gain nutrients. Following this is the flowering stage, during which the plant blooms, showcasing its large, often fragrant flowers that can be various colors depending on the cultivar. After pollination, the plant enters the seed development stage if the flowers have been fertilized, resulting in the formation of seed capsules. Lastly, the plant goes into a dormancy stage once again after the seeds mature and are dispersed, or if left unfertilized, as the plant prepares for the next growing season.
PropogationPropogation time
Early Spring
For the Lilium 'Love Story', usually referred to as the lily 'Love Story', the most popular method of propagation is division, which typically occurs every 3-4 years. This process is carried out ideally in the late fall, after the foliage has died back, or in the early spring before new growth begins. Gardeners will carefully dig up the lily bulbs, ensuring minimal damage, and gently separate them into individual scales or sections, each with a piece of the base plate from which roots emerge. These sections are then planted immediately, at a depth approximately three times the height of the bulb, in well-drained soil that has been enriched with organic matter, such as compost. Providing adequate water and avoiding over-watering are key to ensuring the new bulbs establish properly and grow into healthy, blooming plants.
