Gray's Lily Lilium grayi
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- LIL-ee-um GRAY-eye
- Description
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Lilium grayi is an endangered species and is listed as an NC and Federal species of Special Concern. This perennial wildflower plant, one of the American Lilies, is grown only at high mountain elevations in moist meadows, bogs, and forests in early summer. This plant height is from 2 to 5-feet with 2 to 3-inch lance-shaped leaves arranged in several whorls. The flowers are in groups of horizontal to slightly nodding 2.5-inch reddish-orange, bell-shaped flowers. The sepals and petals have purple spots being slightly flared or reflexed. This plant is difficult to grow and propagate, so it is important to conserve the areas where this plant grows This plant is the only lily native to NC that is pollinated by hummingbirds. This plant is being grown by tissue culture by scientists and is becoming more available in nurseries.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
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 landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lilium
- Species:
- grayi
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwest Virginia to East Tennessee
- Distribution:
- mountains of western Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available August-September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Groups of horizontal to slightly nodding 2.5" reddish-orange, bell-shaped flowers. Sepals and petals have purple spots. It is slightly flared or reflexed. Flowers bloom June-July.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3" lance-shaped leaves arranged in several whorls.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
