Lilium catesbaei

Common Names

Pine Lily, Catesby's Lily, Leopard Lily

Summary

Pine Lily (Lilium catesbaei) is native to the southeastern United States, including Florida, where it occurs in mesic to wet flatwoods, wet prairies, and savannas, It grows as a bulbous perennial with a basal rosette of linear leaves and an upright flowering stalk typically 2 to 3 feet tall, bearing a single, spectacular flower with six tepals that curve backward; tepals are orange toward the tips, yellow at the base with purple spots, The bloom is highly conspicuous and visited by a variety of pollinators, with pollination largely attributed to large swallowtail butterflies; the species also attracts hummingbirds, Notable for producing the largest flower of any North American lily, Cultivation requires full sun to partial shade and hot, wet, acidic soils; moisture should be consistently maintained but not waterlogged, and tolerance to salt, drought, or shade is low, The plant tolerates moist to wet sandy soils and can be grown in bog gardens or containers with a constantly moist mix; propagation is by division of bulbs or by seed, though commercial availability is limited and propagation is not easy, In landscape use, suitable for native, rain, or butterfly gardens in appropriate habitats and for USDA zones 8A to 10B

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8A–10B

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun and Partial Shade

Soil Type

Moist to wet, acidic sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Very moist to wet, poorly drained, acidic soils

Soil pH

0-6.0, Acidic to slightly acidic

Bloom Color

Orange

Bloom Time

Summer and Fall

Foliage Color

Green to yellowish-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

2–3 feet tall, flower stalk emerges in early summer and elongates over about 3 months, 3–5 years.

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Bulblets, Bulb-scale propagation

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, moths