Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Michigan Lily
Lilium michiganense
[C-value
6]
Lily family (Liliaceae)
Blooms
mid-June - July
The beautiful native Michigan Lily is rare in our area. It prefers full or partial sun, rich lloamy soil, and moist conditions. This perennial bulb plant grows to 6' tall with a stout smooth stem. The leaves usually occur in whorls of 3-9 along the stem, but some upper leaves may occur in pairs or alternate individually. The lance-shaped untoothed leaves are up to 7" long and 1" across. Above the terminal leaves 1-6 flowers hang downward from stalks about 4-8" long that spread upward and outward. Each of these gorgeous flowers is about 3-4" across, with 6 tepals flaring outward and then arching backward resembling a little Turkish hat. They are bright yellow and orange with numerous brownish purple dots toward the throat of the flower.
Michigan Lily in one of our Kendall County Forest Preserves on July 8, 2017
Michigan Lily in one of our Kendall County Forest Preserves on July 8, 2017
The same Michigan Lily as above but not yet blooming on June 27, 2017
The same Michigan Lily as above (foliage) on June 27, 2017
The Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) is very similar to the Turk's Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) except the Michigan Lily has a more northern distribution in Illinois, its anthers are less than ½" in length and its tepals curve backward so that their tips are located near but not behind the base of the flower.
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