Not a Lily? Think Again — 15 Stunning Flowers That Look Just Like Lilies

The lily is one of those flowers that almost everyone can picture immediately. Large, elegant, trumpet-shaped blooms. Petals that sweep back with a gentle curve. Prominent stamens dusted with pollen. A fragrance — in many cases — that fills an entire room.

What surprises many gardeners, and indeed many flower lovers, is how many plants produce blooms that look remarkably similar to true lilies — yet are not lilies at all. Some belong to entirely different plant families. Some are bulbs; others are rhizomes, tubers, or herbaceous perennials. A few are tropical exotics, while others grow wild in meadows and roadsides.

I find this group of plants genuinely fascinating. They have, through different evolutionary paths, arrived at a very similar flower form — wide, open, six-petalled blooms that catch the eye and hold it. 

Whether you are searching for something that resembles a lily in fragrance, in structure, in colour, or simply in that ineffable sense of elegance, this list has something for you. Here are 15 flowers that look like lilies — and how to grow them.

1. Daylily (Hemerocallis species and cultivars)

The daylily is perhaps the most commonly confused flower with a true lily, and understandably so. The resemblance is striking — broad, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple, held on tall stems above strap-like foliage.

What makes them different from true lilies: Daylilies grow from fleshy roots rather than bulbs, and each individual flower lasts only a single day — hence the name. However, each stem carries multiple buds that open in succession, so the plant appears to be in bloom continuously for weeks.

What they look like: The flowers are wide and open-faced, with six petals (technically three petals and three sepals of equal appearance) that flare outward from a central tube. Many cultivars have ruffled or recurved petals, contrasting coloured throats, and attractive markings that increase the resemblance to ornamental lilies.

Growing requirements: Daylilies are among the most adaptable and low-maintenance perennials available. They tolerate a wide range of soils, survive drought once established, and return reliably each year. They prefer full sun but tolerate light shade. Divide clumps every three to four years to maintain vigour.

Best for: Mixed borders, mass planting on slopes, cottage gardens, low-maintenance landscapes.

2. Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus and related species)

Agapanthus — known commonly as the African lily or lily of the Nile — produces globe-shaped heads of individual tubular flowers that strongly resemble lily blooms in their shape and elegance. The classic violet-blue varieties are particularly striking.

What they look like: Each flowerhead contains dozens of individual trumpet-shaped blooms arranged in a rounded umbel atop a tall, bare stem. The flowers are typically blue-violet, soft purple, or white. The overall impression — especially at a distance — is very similar to a cluster of lilies held together in a sphere.

Growing requirements: Agapanthus prefers full sun and well-drained soil. In colder climates, deciduous varieties are hardier; evergreen types may need winter protection. They perform best when slightly pot-bound, making them excellent container subjects. They flower most reliably when given a warm, sunny position.

Best for: Containers, coastal gardens, Mediterranean-style borders, sunny patios.

3. Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria species and cultivars)

Alstroemeria — commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas — is one of the most popular cut flowers in the world, largely because of its resemblance to lilies and its extraordinary vase life. It originates from South America and has been extensively hybridised for the floristry trade.

What they look like: The flowers are trumpet-shaped, with six petals that flare outward. The inner petals are typically marked with dark streaks and spots — characteristic of the species and one of its most beautiful features. Colours range from white, yellow, and orange to pink, red, and deep purple. The marking pattern inside the flower is almost identical to the throat markings seen on many true lily cultivars.

Growing requirements: Alstroemeria grows from fleshy rhizomes and prefers a sheltered position in full sun or light shade. It needs well-drained, fertile soil and, in colder climates, some winter mulching to protect the roots. Once established, it spreads steadily and flowers for a long season — often from late spring well into autumn.

Best for: Cut flower gardens, mixed borders, containers in sheltered positions.

4. Rain Lily (Zephyranthes species)

Rain lilies are small, delicate bulbous plants that produce charming, upward-facing funnel flowers with remarkable regularity after rainfall — a characteristic that makes them both endearing and useful in gardens where summer storms are common.

What they look like: The flowers are perfectly proportioned miniature lilies — six petals opening from a narrow tube into a wide, open funnel. They come in white, pink, yellow, and soft rose. Their simplicity is their elegance. There is nothing excessive about a rain lily — just clean lines and a fresh, optimistic appearance after every summer shower.

Growing requirements: Rain lilies prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They are grown from small bulbs and multiply readily over time, forming expanding clumps. In frost-prone areas, the bulbs may need to be lifted and stored over winter, similar to gladiolus.

Best for: Rock gardens, container plantings, edging along paths, informal garden areas that benefit from seasonal interest.

5. Canna Lily (Canna species and cultivars)

The canna lily carries “lily” in its common name, and its flowers — especially from certain angles — do bear a resemblance to large, exotic lilies. It is not a true lily, however — it belongs to its own family, Cannaceae, and grows from rhizomes rather than bulbs.

What they look like: Canna flowers are large, showy, and somewhat irregular — with broad petals in rich shades of red, orange, yellow, salmon, and bicoloured combinations. The foliage is equally dramatic — large, paddle-shaped leaves in green, bronze, or striped varieties. In terms of sheer visual impact, few plants rival canna in a summer border.

Growing requirements: Cannas love heat and full sun. They require fertile, well-watered soil and are not frost-hardy — rhizomes must be lifted and stored in colder climates over winter. In warm climates, they can be left in the ground year-round and will spread into substantial clumps.

Best for: Tropical-style borders, large containers, poolside planting, dramatic summer displays.

6. Crinum Lily (Crinum species)

Crinum lilies are large, statuesque bulbous plants that produce clusters of fragrant, lily-like blooms on thick, robust stems. They are widely grown in warm climates and are among the most impressive of all the lily-look-alikes.

What they look like: The flowers are large trumpets — similar in shape to amaryllis blooms — with six long, sweeping petals in white, pink, or striped combinations. They are held in clusters of four to ten blooms at the top of thick, leafless stems. The fragrance of many crinum species is exceptional — rich, sweet, and pervasive on warm evenings.

Growing requirements: Crinums are heat-loving bulbs that prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. They are drought-tolerant once established but flower most abundantly with regular water during the growing season. In cold climates, the bulbs can be grown in large containers and brought under cover for winter.

Best for: Warm, sheltered borders, coastal gardens, large containers, tropical-style plantings.

7. Amaryllis / Hippeastrum (Hippeastrum species and cultivars)

Sold worldwide as “amaryllis” for the winter holiday season, Hippeastrum produces some of the largest and most dramatic lily-like blooms of any bulb plant. A single stem can carry three to four enormous trumpets, each one up to 25 centimetres across.

What they look like: The flowers are wide, open funnels with six broad petals in red, white, pink, orange, burgundy, or striped combinations. The resemblance to a giant lily is unmistakable. In terms of sheer floral size, Hippeastrum is arguably more impressive than most true lilies.

Growing requirements: Hippeastrum is typically grown as a container plant in temperate climates, brought indoors for winter forcing. It requires a dry dormancy period after flowering, followed by repotting and resumed watering to trigger the next bloom cycle. In frost-free climates, it can be grown outdoors year-round.

Best for: Indoor container growing, conservatories, sheltered outdoor borders in frost-free climates.

8. Crocosmia (Crocosmia species and cultivars)

Crocosmia is a South African cormous perennial that produces arching sprays of funnel-shaped flowers in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. While the individual flowers are smaller than a true lily, the overall spike — with its succession of blooms opening along the arching stem — creates a strong visual impression.

What they look like: Each flower is a narrow trumpet that flares into six petals. The flowers are held along one side of an arching, sword-like stem, opening in succession from the base upward. The classic variety ‘Lucifer’ — with its intense scarlet-red flowers — is one of the most striking border perennials in summer.

Growing requirements: Crocosmia prefers full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. It grows from corms that multiply rapidly, forming large clumps within a few years. In very cold climates, corms may need winter mulching. Divide regularly to maintain flowering performance.

Best for: Mixed borders, cutting gardens, bold summer colour schemes.

9. Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba)

The gloriosa lily is one of the most exotic and theatrical plants on this list — and one of the most striking. It is a climbing plant that produces extraordinary flame-coloured flowers with reflexed petals and prominent stamens that strongly evoke the form of a true lily.

What they look like: The flowers have six dramatically reflexed petals — curled sharply back toward the stem — in brilliant combinations of red, orange, and yellow, with wavy or crimped edges. The long, prominent stamens spread outward in a dramatic star formation. It is impossible to look at a gloriosa lily and not feel a sense of genuine excitement. No other flower quite matches its combination of elegance and drama.

Growing requirements: Gloriosa grows from elongated tubers and needs a warm, sheltered position in full sun. It climbs by means of tendrils at the leaf tips and requires support. It is not frost-hardy and must be stored dry over winter in cold climates.

Best for: Warm walls, obelisks and trellises in sheltered borders, large containers, conservatories.

Important note: All parts of the gloriosa lily are highly toxic. Handle tubers with gloves and plant with care in gardens with children or pets.

10. Spider Lily (Lycoris radiata and Hymenocallis species)

Two quite different plants share the “spider lily” common name, and both produce lily-like flowers with distinctive elongated, spidery petals.

Lycoris radiata (red spider lily or hurricane lily) produces clusters of brilliant red flowers with dramatically long, curved petals and extremely long stamens, all atop bare stems in autumn — appearing seemingly overnight after the first autumn rains. The effect is startling and beautiful.

Hymenocallis (white spider lily) produces white, fragrant flowers with a central cup surrounded by six long, narrow petals — resembling a lily crossed with a white spider. The fragrance is exceptional.

Growing requirements: Both types grow from bulbs and prefer well-drained soil. Lycoris is best left undisturbed once planted. Hymenocallis prefers full sun to light shade and moisture during the growing season.

Best for: Naturalising in lawns and borders, late-season interest, fragrant garden plantings.

11. Naked Lady / Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna)

This is the true Amaryllis — often confused with Hippeastrum but a distinct and beautiful plant in its own right. It produces clusters of fragrant, rose-pink lily-like trumpets on tall bare stems in late summer and early autumn, long after its leaves have died back — hence the name “naked lady.”

What they look like: The flowers are large, outward-facing trumpets with six broad petals in soft rose-pink. They are clustered in groups of six to twelve at the top of solid, reddish stems. The contrast of the pink flowers against bare stems and dry late-summer soil is uniquely striking.

Growing requirements: Amaryllis belladonna requires full sun and very well-drained soil. It is a Mediterranean plant that thrives in summer heat and drought. The bulbs should be planted with their necks just above the soil surface. It performs best in climates with hot, dry summers.

Best for: Dry, sunny borders, Mediterranean-style gardens, coastal gardens.

12. Tulip (Tulipa species and cultivars)

The tulip, particularly in its single-flowered forms, bears a recognisable resemblance to a lily — especially the taller, more open-faced varieties and the lily-flowered tulip group, which is bred specifically to replicate the lily’s elegant form.

What they look like: Lily-flowered tulips have long, pointed petals that reflex outward at the tips, creating a waisted, elegant shape very close to that of an Asiatic lily. They come in white, yellow, pink, red, and purple. Even standard tulip varieties — particularly when fully open in warm spring sunshine — have the same wide, six-petalled silhouette as a lily bloom.

Growing requirements: Tulips grow from bulbs planted in autumn. They need a cold winter period to flower reliably — in warm climates, they are often treated as annuals, with fresh bulbs planted each year. They prefer well-drained soil and full sun.

Best for: Spring borders, containers, cutting gardens, formal planting schemes.

13. Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Garden phlox is not a plant that immediately comes to mind when thinking of lily look-alikes, but the individual flowers — closely examined — have a distinctly lily-like, five-to-six-petalled, open-faced form, and the overall effect of a large phlox head bears a resemblance to a cluster of small lily blooms.

What they look like: Individual phlox flowers are flat, open-faced rounds with five petals radiating from a central eye — a simplified lily form. They are clustered into large, domed or conical heads in shades of white, pink, lilac, purple, red, and salmon. The fragrance of garden phlox on a warm summer evening is one of the finest scents in the garden.

Growing requirements: Phlox prefers full sun and fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Good airflow is important — phlox is susceptible to powdery mildew in still, humid conditions. Deadhead spent flower heads to encourage a second flush of blooming.

Best for: Mixed perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.

14. Eucharis Lily (Eucharis amazonica)

The eucharis lily — also called the Amazon lily — is a beautiful tropical bulb that produces white, nodding flowers with a striking resemblance to white lilies. It is most commonly grown as a houseplant or in conservatories in temperate climates.

What they look like: The flowers are pure white, with six broad, outward-spreading petals and a central cup formed by the fused stamens — similar in structure to a narcissus but with the scale and elegance of a white lily. They are produced in clusters of three to six blooms on tall stems above large, glossy, dark green leaves. The combination of pure white flowers and lush tropical foliage is genuinely beautiful.

Growing requirements: Eucharis requires warmth, humidity, and indirect bright light. It is not frost-tolerant. In temperate climates, it is best grown in containers in a warm greenhouse or as a houseplant. Water freely during growth; reduce watering to trigger dormancy and subsequent re-blooming.

Best for: Conservatories, heated greenhouses, indoor container growing in warm rooms.

15. Daffodil / Narcissus (Narcissus species and cultivars)

The daffodil may surprise some readers on this list — but in its large-cupped forms, and particularly in the less familiar single-flowered and flat-cupped varieties, the daffodil shares the wide, six-petalled silhouette of a lily. The split-corona varieties, in particular, look remarkably lily-like when viewed face-on.

What they look like: Standard daffodils have six outer petals (the perianth) surrounding a central cup or trumpet. In flat-cupped and split-corona varieties, the central cup is reduced or divided, giving the flower an open, wide-petalled appearance very similar to a lily. White and cream varieties, especially, carry a quiet, serene elegance that echoes the white lily.

Growing requirements: Daffodils are among the most reliable of all spring bulbs. They are naturalise readily in grass, woodland, and borders, return dependably each year, and are generally untroubled by pests or disease. Plant bulbs in autumn in well-drained soil at a depth of approximately three times the bulb’s height.

Best for: Naturalising in grass, spring borders, containers, cutting gardens, woodland gardens.

How to Choose the Right Lily Look-Alike for Your Garden

With fifteen options, the choice can feel overwhelming. Here is a quick guide based on the most common garden situations.

For summer borders with maximum impact: Daylilies, crocosmia, canna lily, and crinum lily offer the longest combined season and the most visual drama.

For fragrance: Phlox, crinum lily, eucharis, spider lily (Hymenocallis), and naked lady all offer exceptional scent. If fragrance is your primary goal, these are your strongest choices.

For containers and small spaces: Agapanthus, Hippeastrum, rain lily, and eucharis perform excellently in pots and are well-suited to balconies, patios, and small gardens.

For cutting and floristry: Alstroemeria, Hippeastrum, gloriosa lily, and crocosmia are outstanding cut flowers with long vase lives.

For naturalising and low-maintenance planting: Daylilies, daffodils, bluebells (from the previous list), and crocosmia all establish readily and require minimal ongoing attention.

For exotic and tropical effects: Canna lily, gloriosa lily, crinum lily, and eucharis bring an unmistakably exotic quality to any planting.

A Note on True Lilies and Why These Plants Are Often Confused

True lilies belong to the genus Lilium — a group of approximately 100 species native to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They grow from scaly bulbs, produce unbranched stems, and carry flowers with six petals arranged in a characteristic trumpet, bowl, or turk’s-cap form.

The confusion arises because the word “lily” is used loosely in common language to describe almost any large, six-petalled flower — regardless of botanical family. Daylilies, canna lilies, calla lilies, arum lilies, and spider lilies all carry the lily name without belonging to Lilium at all.

This is not a reason for concern — it is simply useful to understand when buying plants, researching care requirements, or diagnosing problems. A “lily” in the garden centre may need very different growing conditions depending on whether it is a true Lilium or one of the many lily look-alikes. Always check the botanical name before purchasing.

Final Thoughts

The world of lily-like flowers is far richer than most gardeners realise. From the cheerful, everyday reliability of the daylily to the theatrical drama of the gloriosa lily, from the cool elegance of the eucharis to the blazing summer fire of crocosmia — these fifteen plants collectively cover every colour, season, size, and growing situation a gardener could wish for.

You do not need to grow a single true lily to have a garden filled with lily beauty. These plants offer everything the true lily does — and in many cases, they are easier to grow, more adaptable, and more long-lived. Start with the ones that match your climate and space, give them the conditions they need, and let the beauty take care of itself.

References

1. University of Florida IFAS Extension — Hemerocallis: Daylilies for Florida https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP243
2. Clemson Cooperative Extension — Agapanthus, Canna, and Summer Bulbs https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/summer-flowering-bulbs-corms-rhizomes-tubers/
3. North Carolina State University Extension — Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/alstroemeria/
4. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) — Tulip and Spring Bulb Selection and Care https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/tulip.html
5. Penn State Extension — Tender Bulbs: Growing Cannas, Dahlias, and Crocosmia https://extension.psu.edu/tender-bulbs