Sign In 
Get Premium Carolina Lily
(Lilium michauxii)
Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii)
/
/
Evan M. Raskin
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Evan M. Raskin
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Evan M. Raskin | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Evan M. Raskin | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2017-07-27T10:49:56-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lilium michauxii, commonly known as Carolina Lily, is a deciduous perennial herb native to the open woodlands and forest edges of the Southeastern United States. It typically grows to a height of 3½ feet and bears large, showy flowers that are 3–4 inches across. The Carolina Lily is notable for its recurved petals that bend backward, creating a distinctive turk’s cap shape. The flowers exhibit a range of colors from yellow to orange to red for the background petal color, with spots that vary from red through purple to brown. It is the only fragrant lily found east of the Rocky Mountains. The blooming season usually occurs in July and August, though it can extend into October.
The Carolina Lily is valued for its striking, fragrant flowers and its adaptability to part shade conditions, making it a charming addition to woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and shaded borders. It requires low to medium amounts of water and thrives in well-drained soils, making it relatively low maintenance. While it is not commonly used in large-scale urban plantings, it is a favorite among native plant enthusiasts and those looking to create a naturalistic setting. Gardeners should be aware that, like many lilies, it can be susceptible to lily leaf beetle and fungal diseases such as botrytis blight.CC BY-SA 4.0
The Carolina Lily is valued for its striking, fragrant flowers and its adaptability to part shade conditions, making it a charming addition to woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and shaded borders. It requires low to medium amounts of water and thrives in well-drained soils, making it relatively low maintenance. While it is not commonly used in large-scale urban plantings, it is a favorite among native plant enthusiasts and those looking to create a naturalistic setting. Gardeners should be aware that, like many lilies, it can be susceptible to lily leaf beetle and fungal diseases such as botrytis blight.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 2-3.5 feet
- Width: 1-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Flower Color: Yellow, Orange
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands and forest edges
Other Names
Common Names: Turk’s Cap Lily
Scientific Names: , Lilium michauxii, Lilium carolinianum, Lilium autumnale, Lilium canadense var. carolinianum, Lilium lockettii, Lilium michauxianum, Lilium superbum var. carolinianum,
GBIF Accepted Name: Lilium michauxii Poir.