Lilium superbum Linnaeus. Common name: Turk's-cap Lily, Lily-royal, Superb Lily. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Cove forests and moist forests, moist ravines, blackwater stream swamps, Coastal Plain bogs. Distribution: MA and s. NY south to ne. NC, Panhandle FL, and c. MS, southward primarily in the Appalachians, but extending across the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain of VA and ne. NC, and with a similarly odd extension south of the southern terminus of the Appalachians into the Coastal Plain of GA, w. FL, AL, and MS.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Isolated populations in the southeastern Coastal Plain are not straightforward matches with typical L. superbum of the Appalachians and need additional investigation. For instance, the plants of blackwater swamps of se. VA and ne. NC are very narrow-leaved and yellow-tepaled; this form, atypical in habitat, range, and morphology has been referred to speculatively as "Lilium species 1". Further study is needed to determine whether it is a distinct taxon (species, or variety of L. superbum) or only a form. Other taxa from Panhandle FL and s. GA were named by Roane & Henry (1980) and warrant consideration as having taxonomic merit.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA26, GW1, Il, K4, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Adams & Dress (1982), Skinner & Sorrie (2002), Wherry (1946); = Lilium canadense L. ssp. superbum (L.) Baker; > Lilium fortunofulgidum Roane & J.N.Henry — Roane & Henry (1980), invalid name (no type designation); > Lilium gazarubrum Roane & J.N.Henry — Roane & Henry (1980); > Lilium maryhenryae, valid name per ICN; > Lilium mary-henryae Roane & J.N.Henry — Roane & Henry (1980), orthographic variant; < Lilium superbum L. — G; > Lilium superbum L. — Roane & Henry (1980); Lilium superbum L. Basionym: Lilium superbum L. 1762
Links to other floras: = Lilium superbum - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from a bulb, found in cove forests, moist ravines, blackwater stream swamps and Coastal Plain bogs.
Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves in 6-24 whorls of 3-8 (or more) leaves each, sessile (some alternate too), lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic, to 10 in. long, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 3-30+ in a terminal, pyramidal raceme, dangling from long stalks; yellow-orange to reddish with many brown-purple spots; 3-5 in. wide; consisting of 6 strongly recurved, lance-shaped tepals with green nectaries at their base and 6 stamens with rust-colored anthers.
Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
Comments:
Height: 3-7 ft.
plant sale text: Lilium superbum is the largest and most spectacular of the native Lilies. Up to 40 flowers have been recorded on a single plant. Each showy flower is about 3-4"across, with 6 tepals that flare outward and then curve strongly backward beyond the base of the flower. These tepals are yellowish orange or green near the base of the flower, and become orange to dark orange towards their tips. They have numerous brownish purple dots toward the throat of the flower. The flowers are commonly pollinated by swallowtail butterflies.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from a bulb, found in cove forests, moist ravines, blackwater stream swamps and Coastal Plain bogs.
stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves in 6-24 whorls of 3-8 (or more) leaves each, sessile (some alternate too), lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic, to 10 in. long, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 3-30+ in a terminal, pyramidal raceme, dangling from long stalks; yellow-orange to reddish with many brown-purple spots; 3-5 in. wide; consisting of 6 strongly recurved, lance-shaped tepals with green nectaries at their base and 6 stamens with rust-colored anthers.
fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States
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