Lilies are a staple of every floral department and every florist in the world. They are a flower that we love to grow and are one of our core crops at Sun Valley. The trends I see right now, coming from Holland and coming from consumer demand, highlight two very exciting developments in the lily world.

The Oriental and Trumpet lily crosses, commonly referred to as “OT Hybrids” are now taking on a life of their own. They were originally developed to offer a warmer color palette than traditional Oriental lilies and this fall, Eudoxia, Santini, Yelloween, Valverde and my personal favorite, African Lady, are in demand.

Sun Valley brands it’s OT Hybrids as “Sonata Lilies” and we grow them for a healthy balance of bud size and bud count -- this is determined by how many bulbs we plant per square foot of soil. Sonatas are a hybrid of both Oriental and Trumpet lilies, so they have satin-like colors, longevity of life and light, pleasing scents.

In 1984, I started growing lilies in Arcata, CA — this was not just coincidence. The climate is superior for year-round lily production, but in particular for Sonata Lilies. Our average yearly high temperature is 61 F with significant cloud cover and this leads to even light levels, which the lilies thrive under. We also have an average yearly low temperature of 51 F and cool evenings are essential for saturated color in the petals. Looking at autumn sales, our OT Hybrids that offer warm tones are soaring in popularity.

Lane DeVriesThe lily breeders in Holland are now coming up with varieties that circle back to resemble traditional Orientals with pink and purple tones, such as Table Dance, Time Zone and a stunning white variety named Zambesi. Keep an eye on these varieties as they find a home with designers and consumers start to see them in floral departments.

Roselilies are also trending in a big way. The dramatic nature of these large, lushly layered blooms is resonating with buyers and consumers alike. As the name implies, Roselilies possess the attributes of both roses and lilies. They have a soft, light fragrance, produce no pollen and build a six-plus-inch stratified bloom on a strong, sturdy stem.

Roselilies are a relatively new breed and commercial production only began around 2010. It’s been about five years since we started growing Roselilies, and I’ll be the first to tell you that the first generation had some issues, mostly in stem strength and bud count; but right now the second generation varieties are looking phenomenal. Varieties like Natalia, Elena, Isabella and Felicia are performing beautifully and Sun Valley is also perfecting post-harvest and shipment of these lilies — one new innovation is using a gerbera net on the bloom so they do not burst open ahead of time. Plus, we just premiered a new, solid white Roselily variety named Carolina and it is going to be hugely popular with brides in 2016 and beyond.

According to sales figures, lilies are fourth in the world for sales, behind roses, carnations and tulips; however, I don’t think sales tell the whole story and I would dare argue that lilies are likely the most loved and adored flowers in the world. Lilies have been around for thousands of years — in the Bible they are described more frequently and vividly than any other flower. Lilies were the flower of love, peace and happiness then, and they still are now and will continue to be in the future.

Lane DeVries is chief executive officer at the Sun Valley Group in Arcata, CA. He can be contacted at [email protected]