5 Facts About Pine Lilies

More than One Name

• "Pine lily" is not this plant's only name. Some people also refer to it as leopard lily, Southern red lily or Catesby's lily. Scientists and avid gardeners may call it lilium catesbaei, its scientific name. While some people think that these are different types of lilies, they're merely different names for the same flower.

Pine Lily Classification

• The pine lily belongs to the liliaceae family, which is part of the liliopsida class. It falls under the plantae kingdom, but is placed in the magnoliophyta division for flowering plants.

Location

• This type of lily commonly grows in the southeastern United States. Pine lilies grow in flat pine woods in central Florida and throughout the coast of Alabama. The plant is found in eight southeastern states, some of which are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Growing Conditions

• The lilium catesbaei grows in hot and wet conditions that most other lilies wouldn't survive. This lily requires acidic soil to grow, despite not blooming until late in the year. The pine lily commonly only grows one flower during bloom time, but it demands attention due to its vibrant colors.

Common Characteristics

• The pine lily stands 2 feet tall at maturity. The flowers have pointy petals that curve outward, and leaves that ascend. The petals are yellow closer to the stem, blending outward to an opaque pinkish color. Some pine lilies may appear more reddish than pink, while others may look more orange due to the blending of the outer red and the yellow in the middle of the petals. In the middle of the pine lily are the filaments and anthers that are standout features of lilies.