Lilium canadense Linnaeus. Common name: Canada Lily. Phenology: Jun-Jul; late Jul-Sep. Habitat: Wet meadows, clearings, coves, seepages. Distribution: NB west to s. ON, south to NC, SC, GA, AL, and MS.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Skinner in FNA (2002) summarized efforts to separate two taxa at varietal or subspecific rank (see synonymy), based on flower color and leaf shape. The variation seems to defy taxonomic division. There has also been considerable confusion between L. canadense var. editorum (the red-flowered form) and L. grayi, with populations in sw. VA showing some intergradation between the two; these are best treated as L. ×pseudograyi Grove.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, FNA26, G, GW1, K4, NE, NS, NY, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va; > Lilium canadense L. ssp. canadense — Pa, W, Adams & Dress (1982); > Lilium canadense L. ssp. editorum (Fernald) Wherry — Pa, W, Adams & Dress (1982), Wherry (1946); > Lilium canadense L. ssp. typicum — Wherry (1946); > Lilium canadense L. var. canadense — F, WV; > Lilium canadense L. var. editorum Fernald — F, WV
Links to other floras: = Lilium canadense - FNA26
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.






Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Lilium canadense? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from a bulb, found in wet meadows, clearings, coves and seepages.
Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves in 6-11 whorls of 4-15 leaves each (a few alternate leaves may be present), linear-elliptic to lance-shaped, sessile, 3-7 in. long, rough with minute spines on margins and the veins beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 5 or more, nodding on long stalks branching from top of stem; yellow to orange-red with purple-brown spots within; trumpet shaped and consisting of 6 recurved tepals, 6 stamens with red anthers and a central pistil.
Fruits: Fruit an erect, oval, 3-celled capsule.
Comments:
Height: 2-6 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from a bulb, found in wet meadows, clearings, coves and seepages.
stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves in 6-11 whorls of 4-15 leaves each (a few alternate leaves may be present), linear-elliptic to lance-shaped, sessile, 3-7 in. long, rough with minute spines on margins and the veins beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 5 or more, nodding on long stalks branching from top of stem; yellow to orange-red with purple-brown spots within; trumpet shaped and consisting of 6 recurved tepals, 6 stamens with red anthers and a central pistil.
fruits: Fruit an erect, oval, 3-celled capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America