Lilium pyrophilum

This recently named lily, found sporadically in 16 counties in NC/Virginia, was first thought to be a disjunct population of the federally endangered L. iridollae and at times considered as both L. superbum and L. michauxii. After exhaustive analysis, it was christened a new species, L. pyrophilum. This long-leaf pine habitat endemic is found in full sun, growing in sandy pitcher plant bogs. L. pyrophilum grows from an unusual horizontally expanding, branched rhizome, giving rise to 4' tall stems clothed with narrow, glossy green leaves. The stems are topped in mid-July (slightly later and smaller than L. superbum) with 5-7 large, pendent, orange flowers with a yellow throat and abundant, dark brown spots. As a summer butterfly magnet, it rivals Joe-Pye weed. Our plants are nursery-propagated from a single clone.