Turk's-cap lily (Lilium superbum) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,034 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Turk's-cap lily: observations by month (U.S.)
About Turk's-cap lily
Lilium superbum is a species of true lily native to the eastern and central regions of North America. Common names include Turk's cap lily, turban lily, swamp lily, lily royal, or American tiger lily. The native range of the species extends from New Hampshire south to the Florida Panhandle, west to Missouri and Arkansas, and all the way north to Alberta.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Turk's-cap lily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 499 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 112 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Virginia | 91 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maryland | 77 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 37 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Tennessee | 28 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New York | 26 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Jersey | 24 | July | Jul–Jul |
| West Virginia | 23 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 22 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Connecticut | 13 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Delaware | 13 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Georgia | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Mississippi | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Iowa | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Ohio | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Turk's-cap lily?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to July.
Where is Turk's-cap lily most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia.