Pine lily is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower with showy orange flowers. In North Carolina, it is found in the coastal area in pine savannas and sandhill seeps. It is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae). The specific epithet honors English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683–1749), whose Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands was the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America. This plant has very specific needs and can be difficult to grow and propagate. It needs sun to part sun in moist to wet sandy to sandy loam soils. It may be possible to grow this plant in a container. It is not salt, drought or shade tolerant. The showy orange flowers are borne on 2- to 3-foot-tall stems in late summer. The linear basal leaves grow from a bulb. The bulb can stay dormant in the wild for up to 5 years until the right conditions occur. It tends to grow well after fires, as this reduces the competition. The flowers attract and are pollinated by large butterflies. This prima donna is an appropriate plant for a native, rain or butterfly garden, but only where conditions are suitable for its cultivation. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest or disease problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Lilium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dense rosette of linear, pointed leaves arise from the bulb and are about 2-3 inches long.
Flower color
Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Large orange flowers with 6 reflexed petals bloom from July to September atop 2-3 foot stems. Each petal has yellow at the base with purple specks. The long stamens have yellow anthers.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Elliptical seed capsules with many papery seeds that blow in the wind. Fruit displays from September to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Slender green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals
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Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Bulb Mites; Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants; Narcissus Bulb Fly