Lilium michiganese
If you are looking for a bold summer flower to add to your garden, try Michigan lily (Lilium michiganese). With its large flowers and bright orange colour, it’ll be a show stopping addition that will make your yard stand out.
Along with showy petals, the Michigan lily has sepals, which, on most flowers, are small and green. Sepals are the outer parts of a flower that protect the unopened flower bud until it blooms.
The Michigan lily’s sepals are indistinguishable from its petals so they’re often referred to collectively as tepals. The six orange tepals curve back showing off their stunning, maroon-spotted pattern.
The plant will grow one to 1.8 metres tall, with multiple long-lasting flowers branching off a single stalk. Whorls of three to seven leaves climb the stem, adding a unique pattern below the flowers.
Michigan lilies are visited by ruby-throated hummingbirds, who reach deep into the flower to access the nectar. Keep an eye out for daytime flying moths, like sphinx and hummingbird clearwing moths, and larger butterflies, like monarchs and swallowtails, who also visit for nectar.
Plant Care
Michigan lily prefers moist loamie soils in part to full sun. Once established, it can withstand some drought, but keep it well watered during the first couple years. Create a colourful patch of photo-worthy flowers by planting these lilies alongside great blue lobelia, cardinal flower, golden Alexander and spotted Joe pye weed.