The Michigan Lily
Michigan lily (Lillium michiganense) grows two to five feet tall. It is a single-stemmed wildflower with sword-like leaves arranged in whorls. Its stem often branches at the tip to form additional flower stalks. Orange flowers, up to three inches across, have petals that curve backward. Dark spots mark the inner surface of the six petals. It prefers full to partial sun, loamy or sandy soil, and moist conditions.
Though often mistaken for its close relative, the Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum), the Michigan lily is native to Wisconsin and the Turk’s cap lily is not; but they can be easily distinguished. The Turk’s cap lily has a green star at the base of its flower that is absent in the Michigan lily. Michigan lily flower buds are slender and often reddish-orange, while Turk’s cap lily buds are plumper and sometimes hint at a green star early on. Also, Michigan lily leaves feel slightly rough, while Turk’s cap lily leaves are smooth to the touch.
Another point of distinction is how these two lilies spread through their native ranges. While Turk’s cap lily often forms larger, denser colonies throughout the Southeast and Eastern United States, the Michigan lily tends to appear in scattered, more solitary patches across the Midwest. (July)