Flower profile
Canada lily
Lilium canadense
Canada lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Hampshire it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Hampshire
Quick look
Lilium canadense, commonly called the Canada lily, wild yellow-lily, or meadow lily, is a native of eastern North America. Its native range extends from Ontario to Nova Scotia south to Georgia and Alabama. It is most common in New England, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Canadian Maritimes. It is also cultivated as an ornamental in Europe and other places.
- It belongs to the Liliaceae 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 24 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire. NatureServe
- In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 218 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #100 among the 109 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
Canada lily gift ideas
Handmade canada lily gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Canada lily art print
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Canada lily greeting card
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Canada lily mug
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Canada lily earrings
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Canada lily embroidery pattern
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Canada lily sticker
When does it bloom?
In New Hampshire, most flowering sightings come in June–July.
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
- New Hampshire
- Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AL (S2), DE (S2), GA (S2), NC (S1), RI (S1), SC (S1). (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.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
ASPCA's entry “Lily” (Lilium species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to cats, but non-toxic to dogs and horses. ASPCA
🌿 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 Canada lily in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.
New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.
More New Hampshire flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LICA3.
- iNaturalist, Lilium canadense: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Lilium canadense (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
- New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Lilium canadense (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.