Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lilium parvum is a species of lily known by the common names Sierra tiger lily and alpine lily. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada. The plant grows in mountainous forests, sending up stems with flower clusters of lily flowers during the summer months. The flowers are small for lilies, and more bell-shaped than most others. They are yellowish-orange to dark orange-red with lighter orange or yellow centers. The petals are spotted with purple or brown markings. There is a variety that bears lighter pink flowers in the foothills of El Dorado County, California, which is known by the informal common name ditch lily. The plant also readily hybridizes with other Lilium species growing close by.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

7 ft Tall

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Color

Orange, Pink, Yellow, Purple, Red, Brown

Flowering season

Summer

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers moist, fertile soil with good drainage.

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. Seeds may also give good germination by spring if sown outdoors in early fall. 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).

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17

Site type

Wet meadows, willow thickets, streams

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Hummingbirds
Butterflies