1 / 10

Lilium superbum

Turk's-cap lily

Liliaceae Eastern United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Lilium superbum is a summer-flowering bulb in the lily family, native to eastern North America. It grows 3-7 feet (90-210 cm) tall, occasionally taller, on a single upright stem rising from a white scaly bulb. The lance-shaped leaves are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, arranged in whorls along the stem. In mid- to late summer the stem branches at the top into a candelabra of nodding flowers, each 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) across, with orange to red-orange petals strongly recurved backward so the bloom resembles a Turk's cap. The petals are spotted maroon toward the center and meet in a green star-shaped throat that separates it from similar native lilies. A mature stem can carry a dozen or more flowers. It grows in wet meadows, marsh edges, moist woods, and streambanks in rich, damp soil. The bulbs and emerging shoots are eaten by deer and rodents, and plants can take several years to reach flowering size from seed.

Native Range

Lilium superbum is native to the eastern United States, from New Hampshire and New York south to Florida and west to the Appalachians and the lower Midwest. It grows in wet meadows, marshes, moist woods, and along streams.

Suggested Uses

Lilium superbum is used in native plant gardens, rain gardens, moist meadows, and the back of damp borders. Its tall stems and nodding flowers suit naturalized wet areas. It draws butterflies and hummingbirds in summer.

How to Identify

Look for a tall lily 3-7 feet (90-210 cm) tall with whorled leaves and a branched cluster of nodding orange to red-orange flowers 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) across. The petals curve strongly backward into a Turk's-cap shape and are spotted maroon, meeting in a green star-shaped throat at the center. The green throat star separates it from the similar Lilium michiganense and Lilium canadense.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 7'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

orange

red

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Summer

Nodding orange to red-orange flowers open in mid- to late summer (July-August), several to many per stem on a branched candelabra. Each flower lasts about a week, and a stem stays in bloom for two to three weeks. The flowers draw swallowtail butterflies and hummingbirds, which pollinate them.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

orange to red-orange with maroon spots

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam silt peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-7 years from seed

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Lilium superbum grows in full sun to part shade in consistently moist, rich, well-drained soils high in organic matter. Unlike many lilies it tolerates wet meadow soils and does not need sharp drainage, though standing water in winter rots the bulbs. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-8 and dies back to the bulb each winter. Plant bulbs 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) deep in fall. Deer and rodents eat the bulbs and shoots, so plants in exposed sites may need caging. Plants grown from seed take four to seven years to reach flowering size.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Remove spent flowers if seed is not wanted, and leave the stems and foliage until they yellow in fall so the bulb can rebuild. Cut dead stems to the ground in late fall or winter.