The Easter lily is the traditional Easter flower widely associated with purity and resurrection.
The trumpet-shaped white flower is a cultivated form of Lilium longiflorum, a species native to Japan and Taiwan. Its white color and upward-facing blooms helped connect it with Christian ideas of purity, hope, and the resurrection of Jesus.
Easter lilies became especially popular in the United States after World War I. Commercial growers on the Pacific coast developed large-scale production, and the flower became a common church and household decoration during the Easter season.
The plant is not native to Europe or North America, despite its strong place in Western Easter customs. It is also different from lilies such as the Madonna lily and tiger lily. Easter lilies are toxic to cats, including their pollen, leaves, and flowers, so households with cats must keep them away from pets.