Within the potted lily market, beautiful trumpet-shaped white Easter lilies account for virtually all of the indoor potted plant production. They are Ontario's sixth largest potted plant crop and have the narrowest holiday sales window of only 2 weeks.

The Easter lily is native to the southern islands of Japan. Just ten farms in a narrow coastal region straddling the California-Oregon border produce today over 95% of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter lily market. The bulbs can take as long as 4 years to reach maturity and within that period they are handled as many as 40 times.

The commercial bulbs are shipped to greenhouse growers throughout the United States and Canada who force the plants under controlled conditions to flower in time for Easter. This is a very tricky process since Easter falls on a different day each year, between March 22 and April 25. Crop scheduling and timing is critical - another reason why the bulbs have to be of such a consistent high quality with reliable vigor and performance. The flowers must bloom exactly when they're supposed to, with no margin for error.

When picking a potted Easter lily, select a well-balanced plant that looks attractive from all angles. The rich green leaves should be dense and plentiful from the top down to soil level. Look for a lily with one or two open or partly opened flowers and three or more unopened buds.

Place the Easter lily near a window that receives bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight. Keep the potting medium moist, watering when the soil surface feels dry. Do not let the roots sit in water.

As the flowers open and mature, remove the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This extends the flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers. Pinch mature flowers and yellow leaves to keep plant looking its best.

From the fields to the greenhouse to individual homes, the Easter lily remains the traditional, time-honored flower of Easter. Symbolic of a resurrection, Easter lilies rise from earthy graves as scaly bulbs, and bloom into majestic flowers that embody beauty, hope and life.