Hastingsia serpentinicola
Klamath rushlily
(c) Daniel Kennedy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Agavaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hastingsia serpentinicola (Klamath rushlily) is a native California herb in the Agavaceae family, recognized by distinctive habitat preference for serpentine and clear morphological differences.
Klamath rushlily is a native perennial found in northern and central Cascade Range Highlands in well-drained, exposed serpentine habitats at elevations of 1,800 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale yellow to green-white flowers with darker midveins, approximately 5 to 6 millimeters long with linear perianth parts. Growing from a bulb 23 to 40 millimeters long and 14 to 21 millimeters wide, it develops an open inflorescence with few or no branches. Its bulb-based structure supports a distinctive flowering stem that produces delicate, subtly colored blossoms characteristic of rush-like lilies. The mature plant produces oblong fruits 5 to 8 millimeters in length, completing its reproductive cycle in these high-elevation serpentine environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive habitat preference for serpentine and clear morphological differences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Well-drained, exposed serpentine
Elevation: 1800-2200 m
California counties: Mendocino, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte, Shasta, Tehama
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Hastingsia serpentinicola blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Agave: Hastingsia has thin flexible leaves; agave has thick rigid succulent leaves.; vs Hesperoyucca: Hastingsia grows in wet meadows with flexible leaves; hesperoyucca has stiff sword-leaves in deserts.; vs Yucca: Hastingsia has thin flexible leaves in bogs; yucca has rigid sharp-pointed leaves in dry areas.; vs Leucocrinum: Hastingsia has flowers on tall stalks above leaves; sand lily flowers sit at ground level.; vs Hesperocallis: Hastingsia has tiny flowers in spikes in wet areas; desert lily has large flowers in dry habitats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hastingsia serpentinicola native to California?
Yes. Hastingsia serpentinicola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hastingsia serpentinicola bloom?
Hastingsia serpentinicola blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Hastingsia serpentinicola grow?
Hastingsia serpentinicola occurs in Mendocino, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, at elevations of 1800-2200 m.
What plant family does Hastingsia serpentinicola belong to?
Hastingsia serpentinicola is in the Agavaceae family, genus Hastingsia.
What habitat does Hastingsia serpentinicola grow in?
Hastingsia serpentinicola grows in Well-drained, exposed serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.