Lilies in Russia: Fragrance, Varieties and Vase Life
Lilies are one of the most asked-about flowers at our counter, and also one of the most misunderstood. Customers arrive expecting a fully open bloom, receive tight buds, and assume something went wrong. Others order a scented lily and end up with an Asiatic variety that has almost no fragrance at all. The three main groups sold in Russia — Oriental, Asiatic and LA hybrid — behave very differently in the vase, open on different schedules and suit different rooms. This guide covers what is actually available in Russian wholesale, how each type performs after delivery, and the small steps that double the time flowers stay presentable on your table.
The Three Groups You Will Actually Find in Russian Shops
Russian flower wholesalers stock three lily groups in meaningful volume: Asiatic hybrids, Oriental hybrids and LA hybrids, which are a cross between the two. Asiatic lilies are the most common and the cheapest to ship because they are hardy, have almost no scent and travel well from Dutch and Kenyan farms. They arrive in Russia year-round and represent the bulk of what budget bouquets contain. Oriental lilies — varieties such as Stargazer, Casablanca and Siberia — are the heavily fragrant ones with wide, recurved petals and the distinctive pink or white colouring most people picture when they think of a lily. They are more delicate in transit and cost more per stem. LA hybrids like Brindisi and Eyeliner sit between the two groups: they are larger than Asiatics, carry a mild scent rather than the full Oriental punch, open faster than Orientals and tolerate a wider range of room temperatures without dropping petals prematurely. When you call to order, specifying the group rather than just saying lily gets you the right result. Asking for a scented lily without naming a group almost always means you want an Oriental, and the florist needs to hear that clearly to pull the correct stock from the cooler.
Bouquets we can deliver
Fragrance: Which Lilies Smell and How Strongly
The fragrance question is the one we answer most often at Five Flowers. Oriental lilies produce a heavy, sweet scent that intensifies as each bud opens and peaks when the flower is fully flat. A single stem of Stargazer or Casablanca in a closed room of average size is detectable within minutes. This is a genuine consideration for people with scent sensitivities, for office deliveries or for bedrooms — the fragrance does not fade overnight and can feel overwhelming in a small space. Asiatic lilies, by contrast, produce almost no scent. Varieties such as Tiny Invader, Matrix and Lollypop are essentially odourless, which makes them the right choice for hospital rooms, offices and anyone who wants the visual impact of a lily without the olfactory one. LA hybrids occupy the middle ground: varieties like Brindisi have a light, clean scent that is noticeable up close but does not fill a room. If a customer tells us they want lilies but are worried about the smell, we move them to Asiatics or LAs immediately. If they say they specifically want the classic lily fragrance, we confirm they mean Oriental and check that the delivery address is a home rather than a shared workspace. These are not aesthetic preferences — they are practical questions that determine whether the flowers are actually welcome in the room they are going into.
How Fast Each Type Opens After Delivery
Lilies are almost always delivered as closed or partially open buds, and the opening timeline varies significantly by group. Asiatic lilies in tight bud at room temperature of around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius will typically show colour and begin to open within 24 to 36 hours, with all buds on a multi-bud stem fully open within three to four days. Oriental lilies open more slowly. A closed Casablanca bud at the same temperature takes roughly 48 to 72 hours to show the first petal separation and may take five to six days for all buds on the stem to reach full open. LA hybrids fall in between, usually beginning to open within 36 to 48 hours. This timeline is why customers who order lilies for a specific event — a birthday dinner, a housewarming — need to think about timing. Ordering tight Asiatic buds the morning of an event works fine. Ordering closed Oriental buds the morning of the event means the flowers will likely be at bud stage during the party and only fully open the following day. We advise customers who need Orientals for a specific moment to order one to two days ahead. Temperature also plays a role: a cooler room of 17 to 18 degrees will slow opening by roughly 30 percent, while a warm room above 24 degrees accelerates it and shortens total vase life. Placing the vase away from direct sunlight and radiators is not a decoration tip — it is the single most effective way to control the opening pace.
Vase Life by Variety and How to Measure It Honestly
Vase life figures quoted in flower catalogues describe ideal conditions: clean water, cool room, no direct light, stems re-cut every two days. In real apartments in Saint Petersburg in January, with central heating running at full capacity and rooms sitting at 24 degrees or above, those figures drop. Asiatic lilies under good conditions last seven to ten days from delivery. Under warm indoor conditions typical of Russian winter apartments, expect five to seven days before petals begin to drop. Oriental lilies last eight to twelve days under good conditions; in a warm room, six to nine days is realistic. LA hybrids generally match Orientals in vase life. The individual buds on a multi-bud stem do not all open and decline simultaneously — the lowest bud on the stem opens first and will be spent before the topmost bud is fully open, which means the stem looks presentable for longer than any single flower's lifespan would suggest. Removing spent flowers as they finish, rather than waiting for the whole stem to look tired, keeps the arrangement looking fresh. One practical note specific to Russia: tap water in Saint Petersburg is soft and generally fine for flowers without additional treatment, but adding a small amount of flower food from the packet included with delivery makes a measurable difference to both opening speed and longevity. Customers who discard the packet because they assume it is packaging are losing roughly two days of vase life.
Pollen, Staining and What to Do About It
Oriental lily pollen stains fabric, and this is not a minor inconvenience — it is one of the most common complaints we receive after delivery. The orange-brown pollen sits on prominent anthers that extend well beyond the petals on fully open Oriental flowers. It transfers to tablecloths, curtains, clothing and upholstery on contact and does not wash out easily because rubbing drives it deeper into the fibre. The correct approach is to remove the anthers before pollen is shed, which is easiest when the flower is in late bud or just beginning to open. Using a dry tissue or dry cotton pad — never a damp one, which activates the pigment — pinch the anther and pull it away from the filament. If pollen does land on fabric, lift it with sticky tape or a dry brush first, then treat the remaining stain with cold water and a small amount of washing-up liquid. Do not rub. Asiatic lilies carry less pollen and their anthers are smaller, making this less of a practical problem. LA hybrids vary by variety. When we build bouquets that include Oriental lilies for delivery to homes with light-coloured soft furnishings, we remove the anthers in the shop before the flowers go out. Customers can request this when ordering, and it does not affect vase life or the appearance of the flower — the petals remain fully intact. This is a standard florist service that many customers do not know to ask for.
Extending Bloom: Water, Temperature and Stem Care
The steps that extend lily vase life are simple and specific. Cut two to three centimetres from the stem at a 45-degree angle using a sharp knife rather than scissors, which crush the vascular tissue and reduce water uptake. Do this under running water or immediately transfer the cut stem into water to prevent an air bubble forming in the stem. Repeat this cut every two days. Use a clean vase — bacterial buildup in a dirty vase is the fastest way to shorten vase life — and change the water every two days rather than topping it up. The water temperature should be cool, around 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, not cold from the tap. Add the flower food sachet from the delivery. Keep the vase away from radiators, which are a significant factor in Russian homes during the heating season running roughly from October to April, and away from direct sunlight and draughts from open windows. Do not place lilies near a fruit bowl: ripening fruit emits ethylene gas, which accelerates flower ageing noticeably. If you want to slow the opening of tight buds — for example, if flowers arrive two days before a party — place the vase in the coolest room in the apartment, ideally around 15 degrees, and move it to the main room the day before. This technique works reliably with all three lily groups and gives you meaningful control over when the flowers peak.
Ordering Lilies for Delivery in Russia: What to Specify
When ordering lilies for delivery, four pieces of information determine whether you get what you actually want. First, the group: Oriental for fragrance and large blooms, Asiatic for no scent and fast opening, LA hybrid for a middle-ground option. Second, the colour: within each group the colour range is wide, and saying white lily to a florist without specifying Oriental or Asiatic will get you whichever white stem is most available that day. Third, the bud stage: if you need the flowers open for a specific occasion, say so and give the date. A florist can select stems that are further along in development, which will open faster than tight buds pulled straight from the cold room. Fourth, any special requirements: anther removal, placement in a room with children or pets — cats in particular are seriously harmed by lily pollen and all parts of the plant, which is worth knowing before ordering lilies for a home with cats — or delivery to a workplace where strong scent is not welcome. In Russia it is common to order flowers on the day of an occasion, sometimes within hours of it. For Asiatic lilies this is workable. For Orientals, same-day ordering for a same-day event is a genuine risk unless you specifically ask for stems that are already partially open. At Five Flowers we deliver across Russia within one to two hours, but we cannot accelerate a closed bud — that part is biology, not logistics.
Lilies reward a small amount of attention paid before and after delivery. Knowing the group you are ordering, understanding that buds are normal and not a sign of poor quality, removing anthers before pollen drops and keeping the vase away from heat sources are the practical steps that determine whether your flowers last five days or eleven. The varieties are real and the differences between them are meaningful — an Asiatic and an Oriental are not interchangeable, and treating them as the same flower is where most disappointment starts. If you are unsure which group suits the occasion, the room or the recipient, our florists at Five Flowers will ask the right questions and pull the correct stock. We have the flowers in the cooler and we know what is opening well this week. We deliver bouquets across Russia in 1–2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my lilies arrive as closed buds rather than open flowers?
Closed buds travel without bruising and last significantly longer in the vase than open flowers. A tight Asiatic bud will begin opening within 24 to 36 hours at room temperature. Oriental buds take 48 to 72 hours to show the first petal movement. Buds are the correct delivery state, not a sign of low quality or an early harvest.
Are all lilies fragrant, or only certain types?
Only Oriental lilies carry the heavy, room-filling scent most people associate with lilies. Varieties like Stargazer, Casablanca and Siberia are strongly fragrant. Asiatic lilies are essentially odourless. LA hybrids have a mild scent noticeable up close but not across a room. If fragrance matters to you, specify Oriental when ordering.
Can I keep lilies in a bedroom given the scent?
Oriental lilies in a closed bedroom can produce enough fragrance to disturb sleep, particularly once multiple buds on the stem are fully open. If you want lilies in a bedroom, Asiatic varieties are the practical choice — they have almost no scent and the same visual impact. Alternatively, keep Orientals in a well-ventilated room and move them at night.
Is lily pollen dangerous to cats?
Yes. All parts of true lilies — including pollen, petals, leaves and the water in the vase — are seriously toxic to cats and can cause acute kidney failure. This applies to Oriental, Asiatic and LA hybrid lilies. If there is a cat in the delivery address, do not order lilies. This is a medical risk, not a minor caution.
How do I get lilies to open faster for a specific event?
Place the vase in a warm room of 22 to 24 degrees Celsius, away from draughts, and ensure the stems are freshly cut and in clean water with flower food. Warm water in the vase also accelerates opening slightly. If you need flowers open for a specific date, order one to two days ahead and ask the florist to select stems that are already showing colour at the bud tip.
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