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Lilium superbum (Lily)

Swamp Lily, American Turk's Cap Lily, Common Turk's Cap Lilies

Lilium Superbum, Swamp Lily, American Turk's Cap Lily, Common Turk's Cap Lilies, Summer flowering Bulb, early flowering lilies, orange lilies, part shade lilies, part shade flowering bulbs
Lilium Superbum, Swamp Lily, American Turk's Cap Lily, Common Turk's Cap Lilies, Summer flowering Bulb, early flowering lilies, orange lilies, part shade lilies, part shade flowering bulbs
Lilium Superbum, Swamp Lily, American Turk's Cap Lily, Common Turk's Cap Lilies, Summer flowering Bulb, early flowering lilies, orange lilies, part shade lilies, part shade flowering bulbs

Vigorous, Lilium superbum is a fascinating beauty that can form considerable colonies in the wild, with plenty of stems loaded with profuse blooms. Born in clusters on erect stems clad with lance-shaped leaves arranged in whorls, the tangerine nodding flowers, up to 4 in. across (10 cm), are downward-facing, with a generous sprinkling of maroon freckles and strongly reflexed petals giving them the look of a Turk’s cap (hence the common name). A magnificent flowering bulb for the shade garden, Lilium superbum is the largest and most spectacular of the native American lilies, with up to 40 flowers on a single plant.

  • Blooming in mid to late summer, this lily comes back year after year and provides striking color and contrast to borders, cottage gardens, prairies, or meadowsnear ponds and streams. Best grouped or massed.
  • Growing up to 4-7 feet tall (120-210 cm) on slender stems clad with whorled leaves, it is highly disease-resistant. Bulbs are strongly stoloniferous and this plant may spread to form an impressive colony if settled and happy. It can have plenty of stems reaching up to 7 ft. high if grown in optimum conditions.
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade, in rich, medium to wet, well-drained soils. Good moisture is required, and dry soils should be avoided.
  • When flowering, this lily is highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, which are frequent visitors searching for the nectar it provides.
  • Plant 5-6 in. deep (12-15 cm) in fall.
  • Toxic to cats (though not for dogs or any known species).
  • This Lily is a member of the Species and cultivars of species Division (IX), which includes all species and their subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars selected therefrom (excluding those derived from formosanum, longiflorum, philippinense, and wallichianum). There are 9 different types of lilies classified by the Royal Horticultural Society. And they are all real eye-catchers!
  • Native to southern New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York; south to Georgia and Alabama.
  • Explore 50 stunning summer wildflowers to brighten your garden
  • Unveiling the World of Lily Flowers: Stunning Varieties, Hidden Meanings, and Pro Tips

How to Grow Lilies: Complete Planting & Care Guide


Learn how to grow beautiful, healthy lilies from planting to flowering and beyond. Discover the right soil, sunlight, planting depth, watering, feeding, staking, deadheading, winter care, container growing, propagation, and troubleshooting techniques for Asiatic, Oriental, Trumpet, Martagon, Orienpet, and other true lilies.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Lilium
Common names Lily, Swamp Lily
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 4' - 7' (120cm - 210cm)
Spread 6" - 9" (15cm - 23cm)
Spacing 12" - 18" (30cm - 50cm)
Depth 5" - 6" (13cm - 15cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Butterfly Garden, Informal and Cottage, Pollinator Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Lilium ‘Viva la Vida’ (Longiflorum-Asiatic Lily)
Lilium lancifolium album (White Tiger Lily)
Lilium ‘Flavia’ (Orienpet Lily)
Lilium ‘Giraffe’ (Asiatic Lily)
Lilium ‘Gaybird’ (Martagon Lily)
Lilium ‘Forever Susan’ (Asiatic Lily)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Love Lilies? Try These Pet-Safe Alternatives Instead
When to Plant Lily Bulbs
Trumpet Lilies: How to Grow, Plant and Choose Them
Martagon Lilies: How to Grow Turk’s Cap Lilies
Species Lilies: How to Choose and Grow Wild Lilies
Oriental Lilies: How to Grow, Plant and Choose Them
Asiatic Lilies: How to Grow, Plant and Choose Them
Oriental vs Orienpet Lilies: 10 Key Differences
Asiatic vs Oriental Lilies: 10 Key Differences
Lilies After Blooming: Deadhead, Cut Back, Feed or Divide?
What to Plant With Lilies: Best Companion Plants
How to Choose Lilies: Find the Right Lily for Your Garden
Lilies for Long Summer Blooms
North American Native Lilies: Wild Species for Gardens
How Long Do Lily Flowers Last? Extend Their Bloom
Lily Bloom Calendar: When Do Lilies Flower?
Lily Pests & Diseases: Identify, Prevent and Treat
Lilies: Planting Depth and Distance
Lilies Not Blooming? Causes, Fixes & Flowering Tips
Lily vs Daylily: How to Tell the Difference
Types of Lilies: Asiatic, Oriental, Trumpet & More
Are Lilies Poisonous to Cats? What Every Cat Owner Should Know
How to Grow Lilies: Complete Planting & Care Guide
Lily Flowers: Types, Colors, Symbolism & Bouquets
Top 70 Summer Flowers to Brighten Your Garden and Home
50 Colorado Wildflowers to Know and Love
Top 50 Most Beautiful Flowers Worldwide
57 Red Flowers for Every Garden Style
54 Black Flowers and Plants: Add Drama to Your Garden
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Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
26 Terrific Summer Bulbs to Grow in your Garden or Pots
Flower Bulbs for Every Garden: Perfect Picks for Pots Too
Most Fragrant Lilies
Tiger Lily: A Bold and Beautiful Garden Addition
Orienpet Lilies
Great Companion Plants for Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
Plant Combination Ideas with Lilies
Great Companion Plants for Martagon Lilies
Great Companion Plants for Oriental Hybrid Lilies
Great Companion Plants for Orienpet Hybrid Lilies
Great Companion Plants for Trumpet Hybrid Lilies
Most Fragrant Species Lilies
Most Fragrant Trumpet Lilies
Most Fragrant Oriental Lilies
Most Fragrant LA Hybrids and Orienpet Lilies
Best Lilies For Pots and Containers
Plants with Pink Flowers to Add Romance to Your Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Lilium
Common names Lily, Swamp Lily
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 4' - 7' (120cm - 210cm)
Spread 6" - 9" (15cm - 23cm)
Spacing 12" - 18" (30cm - 50cm)
Depth 5" - 6" (13cm - 15cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Butterfly Garden, Informal and Cottage, Pollinator Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Lilium (Lily)
Guides with
Lilium (Lily)
Not sure which Lilium (Lily) to pick?
Compare Now

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