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

Flower profile

Corn lily

Veratrum californicum

Corn lily (Veratrum californicum) is a flowering plant in the Melanthiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

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 where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
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 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 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 985 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #57 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 591 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #98 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (641 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativefew records (41)2,442
UtahNativeJuly–August985
New MexicoNativefew records (14)591
NevadaNativefew records (11)423

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.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Corn lily a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
16 to 30 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by
bulb, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for VECA2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 149 counties across 10 states; the most are in California (31), Oregon (29), Washington (22).

Other Veratrum on Bloomipedia (1): Green false hellebore.

More from the Melanthiaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Pacific trillium, Large white trillium, Red trillium, Painted trillium, Prairie trillium, Fremont's death camas, Toadshade, Common beargrass.

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Sources