Turks Cap Lily, Lillium superbum, is in full bloom here in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. These true lilies are native to the eastern and central regions of North America. This particular bunch is growing on a rocky part of the mountain just below my buddies driveway. Many of ghem are up to 8 feet tall. The last two photos i took as i stood under the plants. Butterflys flock to the flowers. These lilies like moist soil and generally grow in shady locations. They are blooming in the forest along the road as i go up to their house. People often confuse tiger lilies, of asian origin; with our native Turks cap lilies. Photo 4 and 5 show how the leaves are arranged on the turks cap lily. A tiger lily has leaves arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem. This is one way to tell the difference between the two. A fellow IG person I follow mentioned deer are eating the turks cap lilies and thus reducing the population in his state. I feel fortunate the deer seem to never touch the lilies here. . . . #lilliumsuperbum #turkscap #turkscaplily #woodland #shadegarden #shadeplants #woodlandplants #lillium #lily #nativewildflowers #nativelily #iloveplants #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive #wncmountains #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #upperhickorynutgorge #gertonstrong #gerton (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR98MN7Lpsz/?utm_medium=tumblr
