When does Lilium superbum bloom?

Lilium superbum blooms from June through August, sending up tall stems topped with multiple nodding orange flowers.

What pollinators visit Turk's-cap lily?

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds regularly visit Lilium superbum flowers to feed on nectar.

What growing conditions suit this plant best?

It does best with part sun and medium to consistently moist soil, similar to the wet meadows and stream edges where it is often found growing.

How tall does Lilium superbum get?

Mature plants can reach 4 to 8 feet tall, with whorled leaves along the stem and several nodding flowers near the top.

Is American Turk's-cap Lily toxic to cats?

Yes. American Turk's-cap Lily is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is American Turk's-cap Lily HOA-friendly?

American Turk's-cap Lily takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

American Turk's-cap Lily

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Lilium superbum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Lilium superbum, the Turk's-cap lily, blooms from June through August with tall stalks of nodding orange flowers. It grows well in part sun with medium to moist soil, often along woodland edges and wet meadows.

American Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

36"–96" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 21 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Piedmont Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Northern Forests Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

American turk's cap lily is a tall native wildflower that produces striking orange flowers with recurved petals and dark spots during summer months. This impressive perennial can reach up to 8 feet tall and goes completely dormant in winter, leaving no above-ground growth.

Growing American Turk's-cap Lily

Grow American Turk's-cap Lily in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

American Turk's-cap Lily takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Extremely tall growth looks wild and unstructured
Completely disappears in winter leaving bare spots
Requires high moisture that may conflict with typical landscape irrigation

Wildlife value

The showy orange blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the summer flowering period. This native lily provides important nectar resources during peak growing season.

Common questions

When does Lilium superbum bloom?: Lilium superbum blooms from June through August, sending up tall stems topped with multiple nodding orange flowers.
What pollinators visit Turk's-cap lily?: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds regularly visit Lilium superbum flowers to feed on nectar.
What growing conditions suit this plant best?: It does best with part sun and medium to consistently moist soil, similar to the wet meadows and stream edges where it is often found growing.
How tall does Lilium superbum get?: Mature plants can reach 4 to 8 feet tall, with whorled leaves along the stem and several nodding flowers near the top.
Is American Turk's-cap Lily toxic to dogs?: American Turk's-cap Lily is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is American Turk's-cap Lily toxic to cats?: Yes. American Turk's-cap Lily is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is American Turk's-cap Lily HOA-friendly?: American Turk's-cap Lily takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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