Native Lilies for Your Lawn

Many people plant a variety of lilies, most of which are from Asia. Certain types of Tiger Lilies have overtaken roadway ditches. Asiastic Lilies (Lilium asiastica) have also become incredibly popular. Some people are unaware that there are species of lily which are native to the Midwest. While it's very easy to go to the box store and pick up Day Lilies or Asiastic Lilies either as small plants or as bulbs, planting native lilies can be more work. The lilies native to the Midwest are primarily taxonomical section Pseudolirium.

The Michigan Lily (Lilium Michiganse). This lily ranges widely across the central United States. It is commonly mistaken for the Turk's Cap Lily, and even the seed packet I picked up referred to it as such. The petals of the flower arch backwards pushing the stamen outward. The flower blooms in mid-summer in June or July. Seeds for this lily can be found from Prairie Future Seed Company at a number of retailers including Jung and Wildbirds Unlimited. Prairie Moon Nursery also carries seeds for this lily.

The Turk's Cap Lily (Lilium Superbum). The range of this lily only extends as far north as Illinois in the Midwest but spreads into the Northeast. This lily can grow upwards of 7 ft. The Turk's Cap Lily has reflexed petals much like the petals of the Michigan Lily. The orange blooms are present in June or July. In Wisconsin the Turk's Cap Lily is available at the Flower Factory in Stoughton; seeds are available through Prairie Moon Nursery. I've also been told that these plants should be available at the UW Arboretum Native Plant Sale.

The Wood Lily (Lilium Philadelphicum). This lily ranges from the Northeast, across the Great Plains, and into Canada. Unlike the other lilies above, the petals do not arch backwards, but it also blooms in mid-summer. This plant is listed by the USDA as threatened or endangered across much of its range. Prairie Moon Nursery carries seed for this variety of lily.

The large red-orange flowers are noted to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Like many of the Asian varieties of lily, these plants are noted for their large showy flowers. All three varieties are much less common than they once were, and have been largely displaced by Lilium Lancifolium (Tiger Lily) and Hemerocallis Fulva (Orange Day Lily) which have spread along roadside ditches. By planting these varieties of lily you are helping native plants that are in trouble as well as beautifying your lawn. It should be noted that starting lilies from seed can be difficult, and you may need to stratify your seeds. We currently have some in the refrigerator, and they'll be planted indoors shortly.