Veratrum sp.
Corn lily, false-hellebore, False-Hellebore
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Veratrum sp. (Corn lily) is a native California perennial in the Melanthiaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Epipactis: Veratrum has large pleated leaves and branching flower clusters; Epipactis has smaller smooth leaves and orchid-type flowers in one spike.; vs Maianthemum: Veratrum is 3-6 feet tall with large pleated leaves; Maianthemum is under 2 feet with smooth heart-shaped leaves.; vs Toxicoscordion: Veratrum has large pleated leaves arranged up a tall stem; Toxicoscordion has narrow grass-like basal leaves.; vs Stachys: Veratrum has large pleated alternate leaves; Stachys has smaller opposite leaves and square stems.; vs Symplocarpus: Veratrum has pleated leaves up a tall stem; Symplocarpus has large basal leaves and a hooded flower spike.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veratrum sp. native to California?
Yes. Veratrum sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Veratrum sp. belong to?
Veratrum sp. is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Veratrum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Veratrum viride — American false hellebore
- Veratrum californicum var. californicum — California corn lily
- Veratrum fimbriatum — Fringed false-hellebore
- Veratrum insolitum — Siskiyou false-hellebore
- Xerophyllum sp. — Bear-grass
- Xerophyllum tenax — Common beargrass
- Melanthiaceae sp. — False-hellebore family
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.