Humboldt Lily
Lilium humboldtii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Steve Berardi (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Genus:
- Lilium
- Species:
- Lilium humboldtii
- USDA Symbol:
- LIHU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 250 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- orange, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Hummingbirds:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Butterflies:Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, butterflies, bees
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Native to chaparral and oak woodland understory; bulbs resprout vigorously after fire. Part of fire-adapted California ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to open woodlands and chaparral
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Hypogeal germination; may require a warm period followed by cold stratification for leaf emergence. Germination can be erratic over several months.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Use repeated cycles of 20°C, then 4°C for 3 months each. Germination is very prolonged. * sow in autumn; keep moist over winter; do not expose to temps below -3°C