Plant of the Month Pages
| Common Name(s): | Humboldt Lily |
| Scientific Name: | Lilium humboldtii |
| Family: | Liliaceae (Lily) |
| Plant Type: | Perennial |
| Size: | up to 8 feet |
| Habitat: | Chaparral and Oak Woodland, near streams |
| Blooms: | May to July |
| Fire Response: | Germinate from Seed |
Humboldt Lilies are one of the most striking flowers seen in the Santa Monica Mountains. Yellow to bright orange with maroon spots and about 3 inches in diameter, up to 50 flowers may be found on any one plant. Blooming is from May to July. Given the plant's height, you often find yourself looking up to these flowers.
The flowers have 3 petals and 3 sepals, which look alike, curving upward and back. From the center of the flower hang 6 long stamens with orange-colored anthers. The bright green leaves are 3-5 inches long, wavy, and occur in whorls of 10-20 leaves around the stem. The plant sprouts forth from a bulb and its preferred habitat is near intermittent streams, although it does like some dappled sunshine.
The species name humboldtii is for German geographer and explorer Baron Alexander von Humboldt. You may hear people calling this plant the Tiger Lily, but this is a misnomer, for that is a different plant.
Contributed by Liz Baumann
