Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense
Shasta lily, Shasta Lily
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Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense (Shasta lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by bright orange-yellow pollen and weakly clonal habit.
Shasta lily is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada Highlands in wet meadows and streamsides within conifer forests at elevations of 1,100 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces two-toned flowers with darker tips, ranging 3.7 to 7.6 centimeters long, featuring striking orange to magenta anthers and bright yellow to orange pollen. Growing up to 2.1 meters tall with a weakly clonal habit, it develops whorled leaves and emerges from a bulb with segmented scales. Its leaves are arranged in whorls or alternately in young plants, creating a distinctive architectural structure throughout the plant. The fruit develops 2.2 to 4.3 centimeters long, completing the lily's annual reproductive cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; bright orange-yellow pollen and weakly clonal habit are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, streamsides in conifer forest
Elevation: 1100-1800 m
California counties: Modoc, Trinity, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Humboldt, Inyo, Sierra
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense 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 pardalinum subsp. shastense native to California?
Yes. Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense bloom?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense grow?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense occurs in Modoc, Trinity, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Humboldt, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 1100-1800 m.
What plant family does Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense belong to?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense is in the Liliaceae family, genus Lilium.
What habitat does Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense grow in?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. shastense grows in Wet meadows, streamsides in conifer 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.