Lilium rubescens
Redwood lily, Redwood Lily
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Lilium rubescens (Redwood lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by upright white flowers turning pink and fragrant.
Redwood lily is a California native perennial found in northwestern California and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in dry soils of chaparral and conifer forest gaps at elevations of 30 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces funnel-shaped white to pink-purple flowers with minute magenta spots, 4.2 to 6.6 centimeters long, that recurve dramatically in their upper third. Growing up to 2 meters tall with an erect-ovoid bulb, it develops 3 to 9 whorled leaves that are oblanceolate and gently wavy. Its leaves are generally ascending, 3 to 13 centimeters long, and arranged in distinctive whorls along the stem. The fruit is 2 to 3.7 centimeters long with visible ribbing.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; upright white flowers turning pink and fragrant are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry soils in chaparral, gaps in conifer forest
Elevation: 30-1800 m
California counties: Lake, Napa, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Del Norte, Shasta, Sonoma, Glenn, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Lilium rubescens blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 rubescens native to California?
Yes. Lilium rubescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lilium rubescens bloom?
Lilium rubescens blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Lilium rubescens grow?
Lilium rubescens occurs in Lake, Napa, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Del Norte and other counties, at elevations of 30-1800 m.
What plant family does Lilium rubescens belong to?
Lilium rubescens is in the Liliaceae family, genus Lilium.
Is Lilium rubescens rare or endangered?
Lilium rubescens carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, 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 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.