Flower profile
Carolina lily
Lilium michauxii
Carolina lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In North Carolina it's most often seen in bloom in July–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: North Carolina
Quick look
Lilium michauxii, commonly known as the Carolina lily, can be found in the southeastern United States from southern Virginia in the north to the Florida Panhandle in the south to eastern Texas in the west. Blooming is most common in July and August but can occur as late as October. It was named for the French botanist André Michaux, who traveled and did extensive research throughout the Southeast.
- It belongs to the Liliaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 13 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina. NatureServe
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 945 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #103 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
Carolina lily gift ideas
Handmade carolina lily gifts from independent makers.
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Carolina lily art print
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Carolina lily greeting card
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Carolina lily mug
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Carolina lily earrings
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Carolina lily embroidery pattern
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Carolina lily sticker
When does it bloom?
In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in July–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: FL (S2), WV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Lily” (Lilium species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to cats, but non-toxic to dogs and horses. Signs include: Cats: kidney… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records Carolina lily in 13 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Graham, Guilford, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Wake, Warren, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey.
More North Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LIMI.
- iNaturalist, Lilium michauxii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Lilium michauxii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- N.C.G.S. § 145-20: North Carolina state wildflower.
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Lilium michauxii (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Evan M. Raskin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.