Lilium canadense

Whorls of leaves crowd a stout stem which is crowned with a glorious candelabra-spike of large, pendant yellow-orange to red-orange turkscap flowers in summer.

The height varies from 60cm to 120cm, according to the wetness of the soil, which ideally should be rich in peat or leaf matter; lime or acid seems to matter less than humus and moisture. In good conditions this is a vigorous plant but it will always need a year to settle first. N. America.

Having once been quite easy to obtain in the trade. This has now become a very scarce plant in its true form (i.e. not L. superbum under another name!)