Lilium michauxii
An official state wildflower of North Carolina, this tall, rare lily bears up to six reddish-orange, spotted flowers with petals that arch backward and typically blooms in July through August, named for the French botanist Andre Michaux.
Common Names
Carolina Lily, Michaux's Lily
Summary
Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii) is a native southeastern United States bulbous perennial with an unbranched stem typically 1–4 feet tall and whorled, fleshy leaves along the stem, and it can form colonies via underground rhizomes. Its flowers are orange to reddish with dark maroon spots, 3–4 inches across, with six strongly recurved tepals that droop and a pronounced fragrance, blooming primarily in July–August. It prefers well-drained soil that is dry to moderately dry, in full sun to partial shade (several hours of sun daily), hardy in USDA zones 6a–9b. It is used in borders or native/pollinator gardens and valued for fragrance and nectar for pollinators such as bees and swallowtail butterflies. Propagation can occur by seeds, bulb-scale cuttings, or division, with fall bulb division often best, and plants benefit from protection from deer and rabbits and may form colonies in suitable conditions.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-48 inches
Spread
Unknown
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6a-9b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained, acidic soil with organic matter
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
Acidic soil (pH below 7)
Bloom Color
Orange
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Unknown
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow-growing
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, bulb-scale cuttings, division (fall bulb division)
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Poir.
- Publication
- Encycl. , Suppl. 3: 457 (1814)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Liliales
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Genus
- Lilium
Synonyms
Lilium michauxianum Lilium carolinianum Lilium autumnale Lilium superbum var. carolinianum Lilium canadense var. carolinianum Lilium lockettii