Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii
Wiggins' lily, Wiggins' Lily
(c) Bruce Homer-Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bruce Homer-Smith · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii (Wiggins' lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by uniform orange flowers without two-toning.
Wiggins' lily is a California native perennial found in the eastern Klamath Ranges in wet thickets, meadows, and stream areas among conifers at elevations of 800 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces uniformly orange to yellow-orange flowers 3.4 to 7.1 centimeters long with pale yellow anthers. Growing up to 1.7 meters tall with a weakly clonal habit, it develops from a bulb with 2 to 4-segmented scales. Its leaves are arranged in whorls or alternately, especially in smaller plants. The fruit develops 2.3 to 4.2 centimeters long, completing the plant's distinctive growth cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; uniform orange flowers without two-toning are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet thickets, meadows, streams among conifers
Elevation: 800-2000 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Del Norte
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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. wigginsii native to California?
Yes. Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii bloom?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii grow?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii occurs in Siskiyou, Del Norte, at elevations of 800-2000 m.
What plant family does Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii belong to?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii is in the Liliaceae family, genus Lilium.
Is Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii rare or endangered?
Lilium pardalinum subsp. wigginsii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.