Lilium michauxii Poir.

Carolina Lily; Michaux's Lily

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Michaux's Lily is a native herbaceous perennial in the Lily family (Liliaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Michaux's Lily occurs in rich hardwood forests, on rocky slopes, in mixed pine/hardwood forests, and on roadside banks. It is a perennial from a bulb. The bulb is composed of overlapping scales. Each bulb produces a single upright unbranched stem to 3 feet in height. The stem is green in color. Leaves occur in 2-4 whorls along the stem. The leaves are oblanceolate to obovate in outline, glabrous, fleshy, with entire, often undulate margins. The leaves are noticeably paler on the lower surface. Flowers are terminal and solitary or rarely in 2-4 flowered umbels. Each flower has 6 strongly recurved orange-red tepals that are spotted with dark maroon. This is the only native lily in our area with fragrant flowers. The fruit is a capsule. Michaux's Lily is the most common and widespread of our native Lily species. Plants often fail to flower in dense shade. Michaux's Lily is heavily browsed by White-tailed deer. Swallowtail butterflies are the main pollinator for this species. Michaux's Lily is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries. It prefers a well-draining soil with partial sun. Plants must be protected from deer, rabbits, and voles.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL)

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