Turk's cap lily
Lilium superbum. Family Liliaceae. Bulb.
Also called American Turk's cap lily, Swamp lily.
Native to the eastern United States, Turk's cap lily is a tall, deciduous bulb with hanging, spotted orange flowers whose petals curl sharply backwards. Grow it for summer height and colour in moist borders, woodland edges or naturalistic plantings where its roots can stay cool.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade is helpful in hot summers.
- Water
- Keep the root zone consistently moist during growth and flowering. Avoid prolonged drought and stagnant, waterlogged soil.
- Soil
- Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, preferably acidic to neutral.
- Height
- 4-8 ft (1.2-2.4 m)
- Spread
- 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), gradually forming wider colonies
- Flowers
- Mid- to late summer; nodding orange to reddish-orange flowers with yellow centres, dark spots and strongly recurved petals.
- Foliage
- Narrow green leaves arranged mostly in whorls around upright stems; dies back in autumn.
- Growth
- Moderate; bulbs may take several seasons to establish and flower strongly.
- Care needed
- Medium
The year at a glance
- Pollinators
- Cold hardy
- Heat tolerant
- Wildlife
- Low allergen
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Toughness
- Fairly tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
0.7 ft (0.22 m)
After 1 year
6 ft (1.8 m)
full size
About 1 years to full size.
From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Toxic
- Native to
- the US
- Growth rate
- Moderate
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterApr–May, Sep, every 7 days
- Water established ground plants if rainfall is insufficient; maintain moist soil and check new plantings more often.
- WaterJun–Aug, every 4 days
- Water established ground plants deeply as needed in dry weather; do not let the root zone dry out or become stagnant.
- FeedMar–Apr
- On poor soil, apply a light balanced bulb feed as shoots emerge.
- MulchMar–Apr
- Apply 5-8 cm of leaf mould or compost, keeping emerging stems clear.
- ProtectMar–Aug, every 7 days
- Check for slugs and lily beetles; remove pests and use barriers if deer browse shoots.
- ProtectApr–May
- Support tall stems before they become top-heavy in exposed gardens.
- DeadheadJul–Aug, every 7 days
- Remove spent flowers before seedpods develop, leaving leafy stems intact.
- PruneOct–Nov
- Cut fully yellowed or dead stems near ground level and remove diseased debris.
- DivideOct–Nov
- Divide only overcrowded dormant clumps; replant immediately without letting bulbs dry.
- Plant bulbs promptly in autumn or early spring, about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep; do not let them dry out before planting.
- Water deeply during dry spells while stems are growing and flowering.
- Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of leaf mould or compost in spring, keeping it away from emerging stems.
- On poor soil, apply a light dressing of balanced bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
- Support tall stems early in exposed positions, using discreet stakes.
- Leave established clumps undisturbed unless overcrowded; divide after the foliage dies back.
Pruning. Remove spent flowers before seedpods develop unless you want seed. Leave stems and leaves until they turn yellow or brown in autumn, then cut them down near ground level.
Through the year
- Autumn
- Plant fresh bulbs or divide crowded dormant clumps; replant immediately.
- Early spring
- Check emerging shoots for slug damage and gently clear heavy debris from around them.
- Spring
- Refresh the organic mulch and feed lightly if the soil is poor.
- Late spring
- Install supports before stems become tall, and inspect for lily beetles where present.
- Summer
- Water during dry weather and remove faded flowers if seed is not wanted.
- Late autumn
- Cut down fully yellowed or dead stems and remove diseased debris.
In the garden
- Plant in loose groups towards the back of a moist border for tall summer flowers above lower foliage.
- Use along a bright woodland edge with ferns and moisture-loving perennials.
- Combine with Joe-Pye weed and meadow-rue in naturalistic planting with layered heights.
- Plant above a pond or stream margin where soil stays moist but bulbs are not submerged.
Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Native meadow, Cottage garden, New perennial (prairie), Wildlife garden and Bog garden.
Plant it with: Royal fern, Cinnamon fern, Joe-Pye weed, Meadow-rue, Astilbe and Turtlehead.
Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for large butterflies and other long-tongued visitors; hummingbirds may visit in North America. Deer can eat shoots and buds.
Problems to watch for
- Lily beetles can strip leaves where established, particularly in the UK and parts of North America: inspect regularly and remove adults, eggs and larvae by hand.
- Slugs and snails damage emerging shoots: check at dusk, remove hiding places and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
- Botrytis causes brown leaf spots and dieback in damp conditions: improve airflow, water at soil level and remove affected debris.
- Bulb rot or failure to return often follows stagnant winter moisture: improve drainage or move bulbs to moist but freely draining ground.
Safety
Extremely toxic to cats: leaves, stems, flowers, bulbs and pollen can cause fatal kidney failure, and water from a vase containing lilies is also dangerous. Suspected exposure requires immediate veterinary care. Not known to be toxic to dogs or horses. Serious human poisoning is not well established for this species, but it should not be eaten.
Easily confused with
Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense)
Both have spotted orange flowers with strongly recurved petals, but Turk's cap lily usually has a distinct green star at the centre of each flower; Michigan lily generally lacks it.
Canada lily (Lilium canadense)
Its hanging yellow, orange or red flowers are more bell-shaped, with petals that curl back mainly at their tips rather than rolling strongly backwards.
Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium)
Tiger lily usually carries dark bulbils in the leaf axils and has leaves arranged alternately along the stem rather than in the conspicuous whorls typical of Turk's cap lily.
The name
The common name refers to the turban-like shape of the curled-back flowers, while the Latin superbum means splendid or magnificent.
Propagation. Divide established bulbs or separate offsets after the foliage dies back, replanting promptly. Seed is slow: it needs warm and cold periods to develop, and seedlings usually take several years to flower.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Lilium superbum
- In the US and Canada
- Native in the lower 48 states.
- Native range
- Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maryland.
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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