Lilium philadelphicum L. Wood lily, prairie lily
Wood lily is a North American native plant, once widespread, now declining due to habitat loss and increasing white-tailed deer, who savor it. They prefer moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soils, and full sun or partial shade. Plants: Plants are 1½-4′ (50-120 cm) tall × 9-12″ (22-30 cm) wide. They have waxy green stems. Bulbs are ⅝-1″ (1.6-2.9 cm) × ¾-1¾″ (2.2-4.7 cm). Leaves: Elliptical, 1-4″ (2.9-10 cm) long × ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) wide, with pointed tips. They are alternate, smooth-edged and hairless, arranged in a whorl of 3-11 leaves near the top. Flowers: Stunningly beautiful flowers are bright orange, sometimes pink to red or yellow. Flower petals are 1¾-3″ (4.5-7.7 cm) long. One to three, or rarely up to five flowers top each stem. Flowers are spotted with dark maroon-colored spots, and do not have an odor. They are trumpet-shaped, and upward-facing. Each flower has three petals and three nearly identical sepals, so it appears to have six petals. Flowers appear from late April to early June. Fruits: Erect capsules are ¾-3″ (2-8 cm) long and ⅜-⅝″ (1-1.8 cm) wide. Edibility: Not edible. Toxic to cats. Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 138
Lilium philadelphicum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 19 Aug 2023. |
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