Lilium kelleyanum
Kelley's lily
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lilium kelleyanum (Kelley's lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Kelley's lily is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in subalpine forest hillside seeps, wet thickets, and streamsides at elevations of 2,200 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces yellow to yellow-orange flowers with magenta anthers, hanging in pendent clusters of 1 to 15 blossoms with widely bell-shaped petals that dramatically reflex in their upper 60%. Growing up to 2.2 meters tall with a spreading-elongate bulb, it develops distinctive whorled leaves that spread out and droop slightly at their tips. Its leaves are arranged in 1 to 4 whorls, measuring 7.5 to 17.5 centimeters long with straight margins. The plant's bulb has scales that are typically two to three-segmented, with the longest scales reaching 1 to 3 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Hillside seeps, wet thickets, streamsides in subalpine forest
Elevation: 2200-3300 m
California counties: Fresno, Mariposa, Butte, Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity, Mono, Inyo, Madera, Humboldt, Kern, Tehama, Tuolumne, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta, Placer, Del Norte, El Dorado
Bloom period
Lilium kelleyanum blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Hemerocallis: Lilium has whorled stem leaves; Hemerocallis has all leaves at base in a clump.; vs Fritillaria: Lilium has >12 leaves in whorls; Fritillaria has fewer leaves scattered or whorled.; vs Alstroemeria: Lilium has leaves right-side up; Alstroemeria has twisted leaf bases making leaves upside-down.; vs Amaryllis: Lilium has leafy stems; Amaryllis has naked flower stalks with all leaves at base.; vs Hippeastrum: Lilium has leafy stems and many whorled leaves; Hippeastrum has leafless flower stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lilium kelleyanum native to California?
Yes. Lilium kelleyanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lilium kelleyanum bloom?
Lilium kelleyanum blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Lilium kelleyanum grow?
Lilium kelleyanum occurs in Fresno, Mariposa, Butte, Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity, Mono, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 2200-3300 m.
What plant family does Lilium kelleyanum belong to?
Lilium kelleyanum is in the Liliaceae family, genus Lilium.
What habitat does Lilium kelleyanum grow in?
Lilium kelleyanum grows in Hillside seeps, wet thickets, streamsides in subalpine forest.
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.