Michigan Lily
Lilium michiganense
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Marty Lucas
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Genus:
- Lilium
- Species:
- Lilium michiganense
- USDA Symbol:
- LIMI9
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- orange, red, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, butterflies, bees
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Found in fire-maintained prairies and meadows. Bulb resprouts vigorously after fire removes competing vegetation.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers organic matter-rich environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist then warm stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Hypogeal germination occurs first during warm period, followed by cold period to break epicotyl dormancy. May take two seasons to produce above-ground growth.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Mix the seeds with an equal amount of moist perlite or vermiculite. Put mixture into a sealed container and proceed with 2-3 months of warm moist stratification at room temperature followed by 2-3 months cold moist stratification in a cool dry place. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).
Establishment: Seeds are collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant prefers low moist, rich areas in full sunlight to light shade. It is a very showy orange lily up to 5' in height.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. If seed does not germinate within 3 months, try 4°C for 1-2 months, then 20°C again. * 4 months warm, then 4 months cold