Lilies, which are in the family Liliaceae, have bright flowers that look great in borders and gardens, but cats can’t handle them. If you like lilies, there are a lot of other flowers that look like them and add color and texture to the yard. Whether choosing for color, size, bloom time, or your U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone, plant them where they will get the right amount of sun and water, and you can enjoy them all season long.
Lilies are one of the most popular and beautiful flowering plants, known for their elegant trumpet-shaped blooms that come in a wide range of colors. While true lilies of the Lilium genus prefer cooler climates, there are many flowers that closely resemble lilies in both form and beauty that thrive in warmer environments.
Why Grow Lily Lookalikes
There are several reasons you may want to grow lily lookalikes rather than true lilies
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Climate – Most true lilies need a cold winter dormancy period and do not tolerate hot and humid summer weather well. Lily lookalikes are more heat and humidity tolerant.
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Bloom Time – Many true lilies bloom in late spring or early summer. Lookalikes like amaryllis and clivia bloom at different times, allowing you to extend the lily-like bloom in your garden.
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Fragrance – Some lily lookalikes like amaryllis have a lovely fragrance while many true lilies lack scent.
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Color Range – Lookalikes come in colors like yellow, orange, and bright red which are uncommon among true lilies.
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Plant Size – Lookalikes include short and compact plants as well as tall varieties, while true lilies are typically large plants.
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Sun Tolerance – Some lookalikes handle full sun better than true lilies which generally need some shade.
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Deer and Pest Resistance – Lookalikes like red hot lily and pineapple lily are more deer and pest resistant than true lilies.
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Availability – Lookalikes are easier to find than true lilies at most garden centers and nurseries.
The Top Lily Lookalikes
Here are some of the most popular and easiest to grow flowers that resemble lilies:
Daylilies
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are not true lilies but are close cousins. These perennial plants produce a profusion of colorful blooms in spring and summer, thriving in hot and humid climates. Daylily flowers come in every color except blue and blooms last a day, hence the name. These carefree plants grow 1 to 4 feet tall.
Alstroemeria
Commonly called Peruvian lily, alstroemeria produces flowers closely resembling Asiatic lilies but in more vibrant colors like red, orange, pink, purple, and yellow. A popular cut flower, these bushy 2 to 3 feet tall perennials bloom spring through fall in zones 7-10. Some varieties are compact at 12-18 inches tall, perfect for containers.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus are summer-blooming corms that produce tall spikes of large, ruffled lily-like flowers in every color. Though tender perennials, they bloom the first year when planted as corms. Gladiolus grow 2 to 5 feet tall and make excellent cut flowers. They thrive in zones 7-10 but can be grown as annuals where they are not winter hardy.
Rain lilies
A member of the amaryllis family, rain lilies (Habranthus and Zephyranthes species) produce lily-like flowers in white, pink, yellow, and orange shades on 1 to 2 feet stems. As the name suggests, the blossoms open after summer rains. These tender perennials grow from bulbs and bloom in zones 8-10. Excellent for naturalizing.
Clivia
Clivia miniata, also known as bush lily, produces large clusters of long-lasting, orange and yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms that resemble lily flowers. Evergreen perennials, clivias grow 2 to 3 feet tall and do well as houseplants or in zones 9-11 outdoors. They bloom in late winter and spring.
Canna Lily
Canna lily has large, tropical-looking blossoms that come in yellow, orange, red, and bi-colors. Growing from rhizomes, cannas reach 6 feet tall with large banana-like leaves. These tender perennials thrive in zones 8-11, producing their flowers from summer to fall. Dwarf varieties are available.
Calla Lily
Though not a true lily, calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) has elegant white flowers resembling an arum lily. Callas form clumps to 3 feet tall with large heart-shaped dark green leaves. Blooming in spring and summer, these rhizomatous perennials grow well in zones 8-11. Calla lilies appreciate rich, moist soil.
Tiger Flower
Tigridia or Mexican shell flower produces brightly colored flowers speckled like a tiger lily, with centers marked with contrasting colors. These Mexican natives grow 1 to 2 feet tall, thriving in zones 8-10. They bloom summer and fall from bulbs and make good cut flowers though each bloom only lasts a day.
Red Hot Lily
Red hot lily (Lycoris radiata), also known as hurricane lily, produces vivid red, spider-like flowers in late summer and fall after its strappy leaves have died back. Of the lycoris family, these hardy perennials grow 18 inches tall and bloom beautifully in zones 7-10 with little care needed.
Pineapple Lily
A plant with the look of both lilies and pineapples, Eucomis or pineapple lily produces tufts of purple or white flowers topped with a crown of small leaves resembling a pineapple. Pineapple lily grows from bulbs to 2 to 3 feet tall and thrives in zones 7-10.
With so many easy-care plants that recreate the elegant look of lilies, any gardener can enjoy these beautiful blooms regardless of their climate or growing conditions. Expanding your options beyond true lilies allows you to create stunning displays with peak bloom from spring through fall.
Canna Family (Cannaceae)
The canna lilies (Canna spp. is a group of flowering rhizomes that do well in USDA zones 7 through 10, depending on the type and species. These brightly flowering plants grow from 18 inches to 8 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. The garden has a tropical feel thanks to its bright flowers that range from pale yellow to bright yellow, orange, and burgundy, as well as its wide, green to bronzed leaves. Cannas are often called “lilies,” but they are not in the same family as lilies. Instead, they look more like iris flowers than traditional lily species.
Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae)
There are many species and cultivars in the amaryllis family that look like lilies. Many of them are poisonous to cats, dogs, and people, so be careful where you plant the bulbs. The belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna), which is also called the naked lady lily and the resurrection lily, is one of these plants that looks like a lily. The pink trumpet-shaped flowers are similar to the white flowers of the well-known Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum). These big pink flowers are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, but Easter lilies do better in USDA zones 5 through 11.
The red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) and the Guernsey lily (Nerine bowdenii), like the belladonna lily, bloom with trumpet-shaped flowers in the middle to late summer. Their strap-shaped leaves fall off in the spring. Both species have flowers that can be white, yellow, pink, red, or burgundy, depending on the cultivar. The stamens are very long and look like spider webs. In USDA zones 6 through 10, red spider lilies grow flowers that are 3 to 6 inches wide. In USDA zones 8 through 10, Guernsey lilies grow flowers that are 1 to 3 inches wide. More Like This.
Agapanthus africanus, the lily of the Nile, is also an amaryllis and can grow in USDA zones 8 through 10. The clusters of white, blue, or purple funnel-shaped flowers rise above the mound of grasslike foliage. A number of hybrids are available, ranging from 18-inch-tall dwarf plants to 4-foot-tall cultivars.
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FAQ
What flowers are mistaken for lilies?
What plant is similar to Lilly?
What is a plant that looks like a lily but isn’t?
How do you take care of a calla lily?
What flowers look like lilies?
What flowers are similar to lilies? Some flowers that look like lilies are tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and narcissus. Other flowers that resemble lilies in color and shape but donג€™t grow from bulbs are three-leaf clovers, iris leaves, jonquils, fritillaria, and snowdrops.
Are there alternative flowers that look like lilies?
There are many alternative flowers that look similar without the toxic qualities of the Lilium family. In particular, the Amaryllidaceae family includes roughly 75 genera and more than 1,600 species, including many “pseudo-lilies,” or lily look-alikes. A small portion of these are listed by the experts from Gardener’s Path.
What are the different types of lilies?
Lilies come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. The most common lily varieties include the Queen Victoria lily, the Florence Nightingale lily, and the John James Audubon tulip. There are also varieties which are native to Australia and China.
What colors do lilies come in?
As the name might imply, these lilies have long flowers, opening into a wide and welcoming opening. These come in a tremendous variety of colors, including pale green and ivory to a deep purple that approaches black. The “Pink Perfection” lily is an example that falls in the middle, and it’s comparable to the A. Hippeastrum elegans.
What does a fire lily look like?
The Fire Lily looks like a Trumpet Lily and has similar care requirements, but it does need slightly drier soil. These plants’ blooms are generally only found in one color, a fire red, where the plant received its name, but these flowers can be white, yellow, or orange. 5. Monstera
Are Mexican Tiger Flowers the same as lilies?
This plant is a member of the Iris plant family and is related to the Gladiolus plant. Mexican Tiger Flowers have longer blooming seasons than Lilies, but they look like Lilies and have similar care requirements.