How can I get a start of Turk’s Cap Lily?
Brenda Asked
How can I get a start of Turk’s Caps (orange upside down “cap” in the lily family)? It is a wildflower and we had one on the roadside where we live and it was mowed down by the road department and never came back. If you have this info, I would be so grateful. I have searched and searched.
The Gardener’s Answer
Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) are perennial wildflowers that grow 4-6 feet tall. Blooms appear in the early summer and continue producing for about a month. They are native to the eastern United States where they are happiest grown in full sun and consistently moist but well-drained soil.
Even though the plant got mowed over, the bulb(s) should be fine, and if they had enough energy stored up, they will begin to put on new growth. If you know where it was growing keep an eye out for new foliage and maybe you can transplant the bulbs to a no mow area. Once Turk’s Cap bulbs get settled they will produce offsets and naturalize an area.
Lilium Michiganense, commonly known as a Michigan Lily, is another native lily that is very similar in appearance to Turk’s Cap Lily. This lily can be purchased online at Plant Delights Nursery. Prairie Moon Nursery has Turk’s Cap Lily seeds for sale.
