Turk’s Cap Lilies (Lilium canadense) are now at peak bloom in our woodland. Easily distinguished by their vibrant orange, recurved petals that earn them their name, their annual bloom is an eagerly awaited event for us.
Native to eastern U.S., this graceful wildflower thrives in moist, well-drained meadows and woody thickets, flowering best in full sun with up to twenty blooms per plant. Our heaviest bud count this year is thirteen.
Like many other cherished perennials, they bloom only for a short time in early summer. If they are not munched by deer, which find them a delicacy, or devoured by the noxious European red lily beetle (which is seriously decimating all our true lilies), they go on to form seed pods that resemble green hot-air balloons.
In the fall, these pods turn brown and crack open to reveal stacks of winged seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Often, we will grab a handful to sow on our walks to help increase their number.
Native plant nurseries offer bulbs for sale, but be warned, rodents love to eat them so to protect your investment, take precautions to discourage them from nibbling. Wire mesh baskets seem to be the easiest, longest lasting and least toxic method.
Siting is very important – they cannot tolerate dry soil, preferring evenly moist, well-drained, neutral pH soil enriched with compost. As I mentioned before, full sun is best, although part sun is tolerable. Mulch well and underplant with ostrich ferns, which shade the bulb roots and complement this lily’s unique beauty.