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Hardie-Scott, Linda

Lilium humboldtii

Lilium humboldtii Roezl & Leichtlin ex Duch.

Humboldt Lily

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: LIHU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This stout lily reaches enormous size - up to 10 ft. - with dozens of flowers carried above the bright-green to purplish, whorled leaves. Nodding flowers have the typical tiger lily pattern: reflexed, yellow-orange petals dotted liberally with red to brownish spots.

Varieties ocellatum and bloomerianum occur in moister canyons or flats in southern California.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Sierran foothills
Native Habitat: Dry, open or wooded slopes below 4500 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Heavy soils; dry in summer.
Conditions Comments: Var. ocellatum and var. bloomerianum occur in moister canyons or flats in s. CA.

Propagation

Description: Increase using bulb scales or offsets or seed. Sow outdoors in summer or fall for germination the following spring. Seedlings take several years to flower.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lilium humboldtii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lilium humboldtii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lilium humboldtii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-16
Research By: TWC Staff

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