Lilium parvum
Alpine lily, sierra tiger lily, Sierra Tiger Lily
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lilium parvum (Alpine lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Alpine lily is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet meadows, willow thickets, and streams within conifer forests at elevations of 1,400 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces nodding flowers with perianth parts 3.2 to 4.2 centimeters long, light orange to red with pink tones on the upper portion and pale yellow stamens. Growing up to 1.7 meters tall with a spreading-elongate bulb, the lily emerges with leaves arranged in 2 to 5 whorls, each 4 to 15 centimeters long. Its leaves have straight margins, and the plant produces between 1 and 26 flowers that range from nodding to ascending. The flower is notable for its bilateral, funnel-shaped structure with stamens that extend beyond the perianth and anthers ranging from pale yellow to magenta.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, willow thickets, streams in conifer forest
Elevation: 1400-2900 m
California counties: Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Mono, Butte, Alpine, El Dorado, Trinity, Plumas, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne, Tulare, Inyo, Amador, San Bernardino, Calaveras, Kern, Siskiyou, Tehama, Los Angeles, Lassen, Shasta
Bloom period
Lilium parvum blooms Jun-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 parvum native to California?
Yes. Lilium parvum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lilium parvum bloom?
Lilium parvum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lilium parvum grow?
Lilium parvum occurs in Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Mono, Butte, Alpine, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1400-2900 m.
What plant family does Lilium parvum belong to?
Lilium parvum is in the Liliaceae family, genus Lilium.
What habitat does Lilium parvum grow in?
Lilium parvum grows in Wet meadows, willow thickets, streams 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.