Lilium parryi

Lemon lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Lemon lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in Transverse and Peninsular Ranges in montane conifer forest meadows and streams at elevations of 1,300 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with maroon spots, funnel-shaped and strongly fragrant, reaching 7.7 to 10.7 centimeters long. Growing up to 1.9 meters tall with spreading-elongate bulbs, it develops leaves in 1 to 5 whorls or alternately in young plants, with narrow linear foliage extending 7 to 29 centimeters. Its leaves are distinctive, with straight margins and arranged in distinctive circular patterns around the stem. The plant bears between 1 and 31 flowers that spread or slightly nod, with pale magenta-brown anthers and rusty-orange pollen adding to its unique botanical character.

Habitat: Meadows, streams in montane conifer forest

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: 1300-2600 m

Bioregions: TR, PR

California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego

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