Skip to main content

American Turk's-cap Lily

Lilium superbum

Last reviewed: June 2026

American Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum)
Photo: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay

American Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org, 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

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.

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.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does American Turk's-cap Lily fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.