Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerLilium hybrids
Lilies: when they're in season in Australia
In season now (November 2026): Yes in every state
Lilies are within the listed Australian season in November. The national season is all year. Local growing conditions and supply can change the timing. Check the state guide below and ask your florist about locally grown stems before ordering, especially near the beginning or end of the season.
- Right now
- In season in November
- Season
- all year
- Vase life
- 10 to 14 days
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Written by Dan d'Auvergne
Season by state
Flowers and pets: check before bringing a bunch home
Season months drafted from koch.com.au, flowerdale.com.au, figandbloom.com, flowersforeveryone.com.au. Availability varies by grower and region. See sources
Lilies are grown year-round in Australia in climate-controlled glasshouses, so they are one of the most reliable flowers at market in any month. One of the biggest producers is in Wynyard, north-west Tasmania, supplying oriental lilies all year from a 20,000 square metre glasshouse. Orientals are the big, scented ones, while Asiatic and LA hybrids are unscented or lightly scented and come in brighter colours. Buds keep opening over one to two weeks.
Where to buy lilies
For Valentine's Day
Lilies are grown in glasshouses all year, including a large operation in north-west Tasmania, so supply and prices stay steady in February while roses spike. That makes them a good-value Valentine's choice with plenty of presence. Oriental lilies such as Casa Blanca and Stargazer have big flowers and a strong scent, while Asiatic types are lighter on scent and come in brighter colours. Buy stems with coloured buds that haven't opened yet, and they will keep opening for a week or two, well after the 14th. In the Victorian language of flowers, a white lily meant purity and sweetness. Two cautions. Pull the orange anthers as each flower opens so the pollen doesn't stain, and don't give lilies to anyone with a cat.
Valentine's flower guideFor Mother's Day
Lilies are grown under glass all year in Australia, including a large oriental lily glasshouse at Wynyard in north-west Tasmania, so supply stays steady in Mother's Day week when many other flowers get tight. Oriental lilies such as Casa Blanca and Stargazer bring strong scent, while Asiatic types are brighter and nearly unscented, which suits someone who finds perfume too much. A stem with three to five closed, coloured buds will keep opening for well over a week. Order ahead as you would for any flower that week. The one thing to check first is whether there is a cat in the house, as all parts of the lily are toxic to cats. At home, pull off the orange anthers as each flower opens and top up the water daily.
Mother's Day flower guideSold by the stem or bunch. Prices are steady through the year because supply is glasshouse-grown.
How to choose good lilies
Count the buds. A good oriental stem carries three to five, and more buds means a longer run in the vase. Check that none are broken or brown at the tip and that there is no pollen already dusting the petals, which means the stems are older than they look. Decide on scent before you buy: orientals fill a room, while Asiatics suit a dining table where perfume can clash with food. Three to five stems fill a standard vase. Prices barely move through the year, so just buy three or four days before you need the flowers open.
Grown here or imported?
Lilies are not native to Australia, but they're grown here commercially.
Where they're grown
Australian lilies are grown under glass, which is why supply and price stay steady all year. Growers plant bulbs in batches in climate-controlled glasshouses so there is always a crop coming into flower, and most bulbs are imported from the Netherlands. One of the largest operations is Flowerdale at Wynyard in north-west Tasmania, which grows orientals year round in a 20,000 square metre glasshouse. Stems are cut in tight bud, graded and sent to the city flower markets. Imported stems fill some gaps, mostly for new or less common varieties that local growers don't carry.
Florists top up local supply with imported stems. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- pink
- yellow
- orange
- red
- speckled
Varieties to ask for
- Oriental
- Asiatic
- LA hybrid
- Casa Blanca
- Stargazer
Vase life
10 to 14 days
Making them last
- Buy stems with coloured buds that are not yet open and bright green leaves
- Recut stems and remove leaves below the waterline
- Pull off the orange anthers as each flower opens to stop pollen staining
- Top up water daily and change it every few days, as lilies drink a lot
- Keep away from cats, as all parts of lilies are toxic to them
Using them at home
Lilies are top heavy, so use a tall vase with a weighted base or a wide neck that lets the heads lean out. A few stems on their own look generous, or mix them with eucalyptus and roses, which are also around all year. If pollen does land on clothes or a tablecloth, lift it off with sticky tape or a dry brush rather than rubbing, which pushes it into the fibres. If you have a cat, skip lilies altogether. The ASPCA says eating any part, even pollen or vase water, can cause kidney failure in cats.
Meaning
Traditionally a symbol of purity and renewal.
Where to see them growing
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best months: all year
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best months: all year
Questions people ask
When are lilies in season in Australia?
Lilies are available all year in Australia because they are grown in climate-controlled glasshouses, including a large lily operation in north-west Tasmania. You can find orientals, Asiatics and LA hybrids at market in any month.
How early should I buy lilies for Mother's Day?
Three or four days before, if you want them open on the Sunday. Lilies arrive in bud and take a few days to open in a warm room. If you are ordering from a florist, ask for stems with some buds showing colour so there is something to see on the day and more to come.
Are lilies a good Valentine's Day flower?
Yes, especially if you want something that lasts. Lilies are grown under glass all year, so February prices hold steady, and a bunch bought in bud keeps opening for up to two weeks. Pink or white orientals suit Valentine's Day best. Skip them if the person has a cat, because every part of a lily is toxic to cats.
When should I buy lilies for Christmas Day?
About four days before. Choose stems with three to five buds that are coloured but still closed. A warm December house opens them faster than a cool one, so if you buy earlier, keep them in the coolest room until a day or two out. Pull off the orange anthers as each flower opens.
Are lilies OK on a Christmas table?
Asiatic and LA hybrid lilies suit a dining table because they have little or no scent. Oriental lilies have a strong perfume that can compete with the food, so they sit better in the hallway or on a sideboard. Either way, remove the pollen before guests arrive and keep all lilies away from cats.
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