Michigan Lily is a native true lily found in prairie swales, wet meadows, and open woodland edges from South Dakota east to New York and south to Georgia and Oklahoma. Tall stems bear nodding orange-red flowers with strongly recurved petals spotted purple-brown, drawing swallowtail butterflies and ruby-throated hummingbirds in midsummer.
The species grows from scaly bulbs that multiply slowly into clumps over several years. It performs best in consistently moist, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH; organic mulch helps maintain the cool, moist root zone it requires. Tall stems may need staking in exposed or windy sites. Lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is a serious defoliating pest in the northeastern part of its range and should be monitored from shoot emergence onward.
Lily Basal Rot
Bulb scales brown and soften at the base; stems yellow, wilt, and collapse at or just above soil level. Pink or white fungal growth may be visible on rotted bulb tissue when dug.
Discard infected bulbs; do not replant lilies in the same location for at least three years. Improve soil drainage before replanting. Dust new bulbs with sulfur powder prior to planting. Avoid overwatering and soil compaction around the root zone.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Mosaic virus
Yellowing, mottled, or distorted leaves. No cure — spread by aphids.
Remove and destroy infected plants. Control aphid populations to prevent spread. Do not propagate from infected tubers.
Phytophthora Root Rot
Wilting despite moist soil, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and dark, decayed roots and crown tissue. Vines may collapse during hot weather.
Plant in well-draining soil and avoid waterlogging. Remove and destroy affected vines. Improve drainage with raised beds or amended soil and avoid overwatering.