Bloomipedia
Corn lily (Veratrum californicum)
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Corn lily

Veratrum californicum

Native in the lower 48

Corn lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

10states
4of our state lists
12,997U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah

Quick look

Veratrum californicum is an extremely poisonous plant native to western North America, including the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, as far north as Washington and as far south as Durango; depending on latitude, it grows from near sea level to as high as 11,000 feet. It grows 1 to 2 meters tall, with an erect, unbranched, heavily leafy stem resembling a cornstalk.

  • It belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,442 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #61 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 985 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #57 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 591 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #98 among the 109 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

Corn lily gift ideas

Handmade corn lily gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (641 records)
Bloom time in each of our 4 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August2,442
UtahNativeJuly–August985
New MexicoNativefew records591
NevadaNativefew records423

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S2), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (severe, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “severe.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. USDA PLANTS

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records corn lily in 10 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Utah counties with USDA records: Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Weber.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos, Torrance.

More Colorado flowers

Sources