Lilium maritimum

Coast lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Coast lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern North Coast and northern Central Coast bioregions in coastal prairie, scrub, peatland, and gaps in closed-cone pine forest at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces stunning bell-shaped red to red-orange flowers 3.4 to 5 centimeters long, with darker spots concentrated in the mid-basal region and surrounded by light orange or yellow-green coloration. Growing up to 2.5 meters tall (much shorter on coastal bluffs), it develops from a lumpy, spreading-elongate bulb with distinctive one or two-segmented scales. Its leaves are arranged basally, alternately, or in 1 to 3 whorls, measuring 3 to 18 centimeters long and remaining narrow with smooth margins. The plant bears 1 to 13 nodding flowers with light magenta anthers and orange pollen, creating a striking display in its coastal habitats.

Habitat: Coastal prairie or scrub, peatland, gaps in closed-cone-pine forest

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: < 150 m

Bioregions: s NCo, n CCo.

California counties: Mendocino, Del Norte, Sonoma, Marin

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.