Yellow Prairie Lily
Calochortus nuttallii Torr. & A.Gray
Yellow Prairie Lily — also known as the Sego Lily — is a luminous native wildflower of the western American prairies and desert foothills, bearing elegant goblet-shaped blooms in white with yellow and lilac markings at the center. Utah's beloved state flower, it symbolizes gratitude, survival, purity, and the life-giving power of the land.
Liliaceae (Lily family)
Late spring to midsummer (May–August); blooms vary by elevation, later at higher altitudes
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: mountain avenss and calochortuss also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
The Sego Lily carries perhaps the most deeply human story of any state flower. When Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah in 1847 and faced famine, it was the Indigenous Shoshone and Paiute peoples who showed them that the sego lily's small white bulbs were edible and sustaining — a gift of knowledge that is widely credited with enabling the survival of the early settler communities. In recognition of this act and in honor of the flower's quiet beauty, Utah formally designated the sego lily as its state flower in 1911. Today, the sego lily's image appears on Salt Lake City's flag and in many civic symbols throughout Utah. The Shoshone name for the plant, seego or sikoo, gave the common name its final form. The flower's three silky white petals, each painted with a delicate mosaic of yellow and lilac at its center, have the quality of a rare jewel found in the most austere, sun-baked landscapes.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade; thrives in open, exposed sites with intense sun and good air circulation
Water
Very low during growing season; must be kept completely dry during summer and fall dormancy — moisture during dormancy causes bulb rot and is the most common cause of cultivation failure
Soil
Dry, Well-drained, Sandy loam, Gravelly, Low organic matter
Expert Growing Tips
This is one of the most challenging western bulbs to cultivate — success requires perfectly drained, dry soil and strict summer dormancy
Plant bulbs 3–4 inches deep in gravelly or sandy well-drained soil; a layer of gravel under the bulb helps prevent rot
Never water during summer and fall dormancy (July–October) — this is non-negotiable
In wetter climates, grow in raised beds with exceptional drainage or in pots that can be moved under cover in summer
Do not collect from the wild — this is ecologically harmful and legally restricted; purchase from reputable native plant nurseries
Plants grown from seed take 3–7 years to reach flowering size; bulblet offsets flower in 2 years
Mark planting spots carefully; the plant disappears completely in summer and is easily lost or accidentally disturbed
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Native plant and wildflower gardens in appropriate dry western climates
- Rock gardens and gravelly raised beds
- Natural meadow plantings in xeric conditions
- Pollinator habitat gardens supporting native bees
- Cut flower arrangements (short-lived but exquisite)
Traditional Uses
- The starchy bulbs were a vital food source for many Native American peoples of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain region, including the Ute, Shoshone, Gosiute, Paiute, Navajo, Hopi, and Havasupai — eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or dried and ground into flour
- During the 1848–1850 pioneer settlement of Utah, the Shoshone and Paiute peoples shared knowledge of the edible sego bulb with starving Mormon settlers, enabling the community's survival through severe food shortages
- This act of lifesaving generosity directly led to the designation of the sego lily as the Utah State Flower in 1911, in explicit commemoration of this historical moment
- The Hopi used the yellow-flowered form ceremonially
- Caution: must not be confused with death camas (Anticlea/Zigadenus spp.), which grows in similar habitats and has toxic bulbs; the sego lily bulb has no more than 4 internal rings when cut, while death camas bulbs have many concentric layers like an onion
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Yellow Prairie Lily
What does the yellow prairie lily (sego lily) symbolize?
The Sego Lily symbolizes gratitude, survival, and quiet grace. Its designation as Utah's state flower commemorates the act of generosity by which Indigenous peoples shared knowledge of the edible bulb with starving Mormon pioneers — making it a symbol of life-saving kindness and the beauty found in the most demanding landscapes.
Why is the sego lily Utah's state flower?
Utah designated the sego lily as its state flower in 1911 to honor the historical moment when Shoshone and Paiute peoples taught the early Mormon settlers to eat the plant's nutritious bulbs during the famine of 1848–1850, an act that is credited with enabling the settlement communities to survive.
Are sego lily bulbs edible?
Yes — the small starchy bulbs are edible raw, boiled, roasted, or dried and ground into flour. However, they must not be confused with death camas (Anticlea/Zigadenus spp.), which grows in the same habitat and has toxic bulbs. Never forage without expert in-person identification guidance.
Is the yellow prairie lily hard to grow?
It is one of the more challenging western bulbs, requiring perfectly drained dry soil and strict summer dormancy with no watering from July to October. In suitable dry western climates it can be rewarding; in humid or wet climates, it is best grown in pots that can be kept completely dry during dormancy.
What does a sego lily flower look like?
The flower is a goblet or open bowl up to 3 inches across with 3 broad silky petals — typically white or cream, each marked near the base with a mosaic of yellow, white, and purple-brown around a circular fringed nectar gland. The 3 narrower green sepals alternate with the petals, and the center holds 6 stamens and a 3-lobed stigma.
What is the difference between sego lily and death camas?
Both grow in similar dry western habitats, but their flowers are completely different: sego lily has large, showy, goblet-shaped white to lavender flowers with yellow markings; death camas has small, creamy-white flowers in dense racemes. Before flowering, the bulbs can be distinguished — sego lily bulbs have no more than 4 internal rings when cut, while death camas bulbs have many layers like an onion.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
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