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Lilium superbum

Phonetic Spelling
LIL-ee-um soo-PER-bum
Description

Turk's-cap Lily is a perennial wildflower plant that enjoys partial shade growing from 4-8-feet tall during the summer months in deep, fertile, moist soil near cove forests, ravines, swamps, and coastal bogs. The foliage is whorls of leaves up the stem. The flower is an orange-red flower thickly sotted with purple.  The six perianth parts are curved backward such that the tips often touch.  This plant delights in attracting pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies. This plant is one of the easiest NC native lilies to grow.

It prefers humus-rich moist to wet but well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade but will tolerate average garden soil that is consistently moist. Plant the bulb 5-6 inches deep and mulch to help keep the soil from drying out. Use in masse plantings around a pond or bog, in rain gardens, naturalized areas or in pollinator and native plantings.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Flower Bonanza Garden Collector’s Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#shade garden#orange flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#pollinator plant#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#mammals#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#food source roots#problem for cats#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#Audubon#perennial#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#shade garden#orange flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#pollinator plant#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#mammals#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#food source roots#problem for cats#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#Audubon#perennial#wildflower
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lilium
    Species:
    superbum
    Family:
    Liliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Central & Eastern U.S.A
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit is available September-October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    2.5-4 inch orange-red flowers thickly spotted with purple. The six tepals are curved backward such that the tips often touch. 4-12 blooms per stalk in loose clusters from July-August.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4-7 inch long and 1 inch across elliptic to lance-shaped leaves are arranged in whorls around the stems.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Sturdy smooth round stem to 8 feet tall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats