Turk's Cap Lily Lilium superbum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- LIL-ee-um soo-PER-bum
- Description
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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. This species is in the American Lily group.
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:
- Collector’s Garden Flower Bonanza Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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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:
- 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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is available September-October.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Sturdy smooth round stem to 8 feet tall.
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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
