Wood Lily vs Showy Milkweed

Wood Lily is a native perennial wildflower known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of orange to red. Its showy flowers appear mid-summer and are highly visible in meadows and prairies. The upward-facing flowers are an important nectar source for many pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Unlike most lilies, the Wood Lily’s flowers face upward rather than nodding. It is slow to establish and may take years before flowering, but once mature, it requires little maintenance. It is well-suited for pollinator gardens, naturalisation projects, prairie restoration, and open woodland plantings.

Wood Lily is the provincial flower of Saskatchewan and North America’s most widespread lily. Despite its wide natural range, populations have been declining. Habitat loss, overgrazing by deer, and unsustainable picking have reduced both its abundance and density across many regions. These pressures highlight the importance of protecting and restoring this once-common wildflower.

Showy Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower known for its fragrant clusters of pink to purple, star-shaped flowers. It is an essential plant for Monarch butterflies, acting as a critical host plant for caterpillars and a nectar source for adults. Blooming from early to mid-summer, these flowers also supply nectar to many other pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.

Ideal for butterfly conservation, pollinator gardens, and naturalization projects, Showy Milkweed thrives in a wide range of soils, including dry and rocky ground. While it spreads via underground rhizomes to form colonies, it is much less aggressive than Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

Note: All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, especially the milky sap. Do not ingest any part of the plant and prevent sap from contacting skin or eyes. Toxic to humans, pets, and livestock.

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