Carolina lily with yellow to red-orange flowers, flecked with brown spot, is our state flower and grows all over North Carolina.
Another common name for this wildflower is Michaux’s lily - named after Andre Michaux, a famous 18th-century botanist and explorer. André Michaux spotted the first North Carolina lily during one of his botanical expeditions through the southeastern United States in the late 18th century.
The Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii) blooms in July and August is found also in 12 other states in the Southeast. It can be found in the west as far as Texas and in the south as far as Florida.
It is often mistaken for another wildflower, the Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum). The two appear similar, but there are some differences. While Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii) grows two to three feet tall and produces around four flowers, the Turk’s cap lily can grow up to three times taller and have more than twice as many flowers.
Another significant difference is that Turk’s cap lily has a green “star” when looking down into the open flower. And Carolina lily does not.
I really like the language used to document that Carolina Lily should be our state flower:
"Whereas, North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of wildflowers from the mountains to the coast; and
Whereas, the Carolina Lily is a scarce and beautiful flower that is found throughout North Carolina in upland pine-oak woods and pocosins; and
Whereas, the Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii) is one of many plants named for the distinguished French botanist Andre Michaux who traveled widely in the southeastern United States; and
Whereas, Andre Michaux (1747-1802), a genuine hero of science and exploration, referred to the North Carolina mountains as "the great botanical laboratory and paradise of North America"; and
Whereas, the Carolina Lily, sometimes referred to as Michaux's Lily, bears up to six reddish-yellow, spotted flowers with petals that bend backwards; and
Whereas, each nodding flower grows to about three inches in diameter; and
Whereas, this magnificent flower bears the name of our great State; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina does not have an official wildflower;"
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The following two photos show an important difference between Turk’s cap lily and Carolina lily.
Turk’s cap lily (photo 1) has a green “star” when you look into the open flower. And Carolina lily (photo 2) does not.
