One of our native Lilies, Turk's Cap lily make a spectacular showing in the Garden. I have heard it can have 40-50 blossoms on it a one time. I personally have had 21 blossoms on one plant in my garden.
Turk's cap lily grows four to eight feet. The orange flowers are pendulant and the petals are curved backwards. The flowers are green at the base then yellow, then bright orange with dark orange spots covering the flowers
Turks cap lily naturally grows in wet meadows and the edges of swamps but will tolerate moist garden soil. It can grows in sun to part-sun . I have seen it in the shade and it did not grow as tall.
Hummingbirds use Turks Cap Lily as a source of nectar. Long tongued bees, Large butter flies and Sphinx moths will also use this plant. Unfortunately for the plant deer like to browse on it's leaves and stems.
Propagation of Turk's Cap lily is easiest form bulb division. You can remove daughter bulb off sets from the main plant. You can also propagate the plant from bulb scales. In the fall dig the bulb remove some scales. (The are the outer tooth shaped parts of the bulb.) Put them pointed side up into a Soil-less mix in a pot or flat. I use a standard 11" X 22" drained flat. Cover them with 1/4 inch of soil. I leave the flats out all winter in a sheltered area that gets rain. It the spring you will see the leaves. Lightly fertilize through out the growing season. Transplant in August in to larger pots for growing on or into the garden. You can plant the seed too. The seeds are ready for harvest usually in September. You will need to leave them in flats for two to three years to get to size to put them into the pots or garden.
Turk's cap lily can be paired with Green Cone Flower. They both flower at approximately the same time, around the end of July into August. Green Cone Flower flowers into September. For year round color plant with Marsh Marigolds and Jack in the Pulpit . This will give spring color. Use Red Cardinal Flower and Bottle Gentian for later in the season All of these plants like the same conditions. Royal Fern and Sensitive Fern will work for different textures under these moist sun to part- sun conditions.
You won't be disappointed by Turk's Cap lily as long as you provide the correct growing conditions.
