Why Are Easter Lilies Everywhere at Easter?

The surprising history and meaning behind the flower of resurrection

Walk into many churches on Easter morning and you will likely see them immediately – rows of Easter lilies with their tall stems, glossy leaves, and white trumpet-shaped blossoms arranged on the stage or near the pulpit.

Easter lilies have become such a familiar part of Easter Sunday that many people assume the tradition goes back to the early church and never ask: Why are Easter lilies used at Easter?

I remember thinking it had something to do with the “lily of the valley” mentioned in Scripture, but in reality, the story of why Easter lilies are used at Easter is a mix of symbolism, church tradition, and even a fascinating chapter of American farming history.

The Meaning of Easter Lilies in Christianity

The Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) has long been associated with themes that fit beautifully with the message of Easter.

Its pure white petals have traditionally symbolized purity, hope, and new life. The flower’s trumpet shape almost seems to announce good news – an image that fits well with the joy of resurrection morning.

Even the way the plant grows carries a meaningful picture. A lily grows from a bulb buried in the ground. For months nothing is visible above the soil. Then a stem suddenly pushes upward and bursts into bloom.

It’s a powerful reminder of the Easter story.

From the tomb came life.

Christ was buried, yet on the third day He rose again.

As Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die (John 11:25).

It was because of this symbolism that churches began using lilies as Easter altar flowers.

How Easter Lilies Became an Easter Tradition

Interestingly, the Easter lily is not native to the United States. It originally comes from islands in southern Japan.

In the late 1800s. plant collectors introduced the lily to Europe and North America, where it became a favorite with gardeners. By the early twentieth century, growers had learned how to carefully control temperature and light so the plants would bloom right around Easter Sunday.

Florists began selling them as “Easter lilies,” and churches embraced them as a natural picture of the resurrection. And within a few decades, the flower had become one of the most recognizable Easter decorations.

The Unexpected Oregon Story behind Easter Lilies

One of the most fascinating parts of the Easter lily story involves the American West Coast.

Before World War II, nearly all Easter lily bulbs used in the United States were imported from Japan. But when the war started, that supply suddenly disappeared.

American growers had to find another source.

Farmers along the southern Oregon coast and northern California coast began experimenting with growing the bulbs. The cool coastal climate – often foggy and mild – turned out to be perfect for lily production.

Soon hundreds of farmers were growing them. At one point more than 1,000 growers in the Brookings, Oregon area were producing Easter lily bulbs. Competition became so intense that locals jokingly called the boom the “Easter Lily War.”

Today the industry is smaller, but most Easter lily bulbs used in the United States still come from a narrow coastal region around Brookings, Oregon, and Smith River, California. Every spring millions of lilies grown from those bulbs are shipped across the country just in time for Easter.

One of the Hardest Flowers to Grow

Another surprising fact about Easter lilies is how much work goes into producing them.

Growing a single Easter lily bulb takes three to four years in the field before it is ready for commercial use. During that time farmers must carefully protect the plants from disease and harvest the bulbs at exactly the right moment.

After harvest, the bulbs are sent to greenhouse growers who control temperature and light so they bloom for Easter.

Because the date of Easter changes every year, growers must adjust their schedules constantly. If the lilies bloom too early or too late, they lose much of their value.

More Than Decoration

Easter lilies are more than a beautiful spring flower. From a bulb buried in the earth comes a flower bursting with life – a fitting picture of the resurrection Christians celebrate each Easter.

And every Easter morning, the same message is proclaimed again:

He is not here; for He is risen (Matthew 28:6).