Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lilium maritimum is a species of lily known by the common name coast lily. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the coastline north of San Francisco. It occurred south of San Francisco in the past; these occurrences have all been extirpated. It is now restricted to the North Coast, particularly in Mendocino County, where it grows in coastal prairie habitat, coniferous forests, and bogs amongst Drosera species. This is a perennial herb usually exceeding a meter in height and known to exceed two meters at times. Specimens from coastal bluffs and similar harsh habitat are much smaller. The plant grows from a scaly, elongated bulb several centimeters long. The oval leaves are mostly basal, with some located in several whorls about the stem. They may reach 18 centimeters long. The flower cluster bears up to 13 large, nodding lily flowers. The flower is bell-shaped with 6 petals with tips recurved or curled tightly back. The petals are up to 5 centimeters long and red to orange, usually with spots. There are 6 stamens with large red anthers sometimes over a centimeter long, and a pistil which may be over 3 centimeters in length. The flowers are pollinated by Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds when first open, and later by bumblebees (Bombus spp.).

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

3 - 8 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Orange, Red

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow, Standing

Soil description

.
Soil PH: 4.3 - 5.8

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Sow outdoors in summer for germination the following spring, or 3-6 mos. warm then 2-3 mos. cold stratification. For forcing slightly green or fresh seeds: 6-8 wks. warm (70°F) stratification or until the majority of seeds have formed bulblets; then 4-6 wks. cold (about 35°FJ stratification; sow, and at 55 to 60°F leaves should be produced in 4-6 wks. (De Graaff 1951).

Site type

Bogs and open places

Plant communities

Closed-cone Pine Forest, Coastal Prairie, Mixed Evergreen Forest, North Coastal Coniferous Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub, Wetland-Riparian

Hummingbirds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 3 likely

Confirmed Likely

Reaper Dart

Euxoa messoria

Figwort Stem Borer

Papaipema sauzalitae

Virginian Tiger Moth

Spilosoma virginica