Easter Lily, a birthday flower of July 13th

July 13th has several different birthday flowers, including the Easter Lily. The Easter lily (テッポウユリ, Lilium longiflorum) is one of Japan’s most elegant summer flowers, known for its long, trumpet‑shaped white blooms that open horizontally from tall stems.

Native to the Nansei Islands and southern Kyushu, it grows between 50 cm and 1 m and produces glossy, narrow leaves along the stem. In its original habitat, the Easter lily blooms from April to June, filling coastal hillsides with pure white flowers that reach 10–15 cm in length.

In hanakotoba, the Easter lily carries the meanings purity, sweetness, and dignity - a reflection of its clean white petals and graceful form. These associations have made it a popular flower for ceremonies in Japan, and even in churches in the West where it is used to symbolize resurrection and hope.