Prairie Lily Lilium philadelphicum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Prairie Lily:
Previously known as:
- Lilium umbellatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- LIL-ee-um fil-ah-DEL-fih-kum
- Description
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Wood Lily is a perennial wildflower in the Liliaceae family native to the east coast to the midwest of North America. It can be found in the mountains of NC in dry woods, meadows and prairies and is one of the most wide-spread lilies in North America.
This plant prefers well-drained sandy to loam soils in full sun to partial shade. The best blooming is in full sun. Plant in early spring or fall to a depth twice that of the bulb.
The upward-facing orange to red and rarely yellow blooms have yellow at the base of each tepal and scattered reddish-brown dots. They are 2-3 inches across, occur in groups of 1-3 and bloom in early to mid summer. This plant can vary widely in color and size depending on its location
Use in the native pollinator or butterfly garden, in small groups, in meadows or other naturalized areas. They can be slow to establish and do best in cool summer areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Bulb rot will occur in too wet soils. Watch for lily aphids, purple-spotted lily aphids, borer moth, slugs and snails and bulb mites. Deer will browse the plant and voles will eat the bulbs.
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:
- philadelphicum
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern to mid-western North America
- Distribution:
- CO , IA , IL , IN , KY , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , OH , SD , TX , WI , WY Canada: BC , SK
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies. Plants are browsed by deer and rabbits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A 3-chambered capsule containing hundreds of wafer-thin disc-shaped seeds in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-3 inch orange to red flowers are held upward in groups of 1-3. The flowers have yellow and speckles near the base of each tepal. 6 long stamens with maroon anthers in the center. Blooms early to mid-summer for up to 5 weeks.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are narrow elliptic to linear, stalkless with pointed tips and parallel veins. Surfaces are smooth and the underside is paler in color. Leaves are alternate with at least 1 whorl of 3-6 near the top of the stem. They are2-4 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Round green smooth unbranched stems to 4 feet tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
