A lily is a tall flowering plant known for its large, showy blooms and sweet fragrance. Lilies grow from bulbs planted in the ground, sending up straight stems that can reach several feet high, topped with flowers that open like elegant trumpets or stars. The petals are often white, yellow, orange, or pink, and many lilies have spotted or striped patterns inside.

Lilies appear throughout history and culture as symbols of purity, beauty, and renewal. In Christian art, white lilies often represent virtue and grace. In ancient Greek mythology, lilies were said to have sprung from the milk of the goddess Hera. The fleur-de-lis, a stylized lily design, has been used in heraldry and flags for centuries.

Different types of lilies grow in different places: Easter lilies bloom in spring with pure white flowers, and tiger lilies have orange petals covered in dark spots. Water lilies float on ponds with their roots in the mud below. That last type isn't technically a true lily, but it got its name because its flowers looked similar to true lilies to the people who named it long ago.

When someone has a lily-white reputation, it means their character seems pure and unblemished, though this phrase can sometimes be used ironically.