Twelve species of true lilies are native to the United States. The southern red lily also grows along the southeastern coast. The tall leopard lily grows along the west coast from California to Oregon. The wood lily grows from Maine to Missouri. Lily flowers grow from scaly bulbs.
Most lilies have clusters of bright-colored flowers on upright stems.
The blossoms are trumpet-shaped and have six petals. Lilies grow best in deep, sandy loam that is well drained. They should be sheltered from strong winds and hot sun. They are placed deep because many produce roots from the stem above the bulbs. As soon as the plants bloom, the seed pods should be removed.