Origin

• The Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum, is a native of the southern islands of Japan. It was first introduced to the U.S. when an Oregon soldier named Louis Houghton returned home from World War I with some of the bulbs and shared them with fellow gardeners.
  
  

U.S. Production

• When the bulbs became unavailable from Asian sources after the onset of World War II, American lily nursery production began in earnest. By 1945, there were 1,200 American lily farms in business.
  
  

Where Produced

• Today, almost all the bulbs which supply the potted lily market are grown by ten farms in a coastal region of the California-Oregon border.
  
  

Favorite Cultivar

• The most widely grown Easter lily cultivar today is the large, white-flowered "Nellie White," named in honor of the wife of lily grower James White, according to Texas A&M University.
  
  

Care

• Protect your Easter lily from chill winds when taking it home. Keep it in indirect sunlight and away from drafts and excessive heat. Water only when the soil feels dry.