Sego Lily
Calochortus nuttallii
Last reviewed: September 2026
Sego Lily (Calochortus nuttallii) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–16" H × 2"–6" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AZ, CO, ID, MT and 7 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Sego lily is a delicate native bulb that produces stunning white, tulip-like flowers with yellow centers and purple markings in late spring and early summer. This petite wildflower grows from an underground bulb and goes completely dormant after blooming, disappearing until the following spring.
In an HOA neighborhood
Sego Lily takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Disappears completely for most of the year after blooming
- Extremely small size makes it unsuitable for formal landscaping
- May be mistaken for weeds when emerging
Wildlife value
The showy flowers attract native bees and beetles during its brief blooming period in summer.
Common questions
- How much sun does Sego Lily need?
- Sego Lily grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Sego Lily bloom?
- Sego Lily blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Sego Lily native?
- Sego Lily (Calochortus nuttallii) is native to AZ, CO, ID, MT and 7 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Sego Lily toxic to dogs?
- Sego Lily is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Sego Lily toxic to cats?
- Sego Lily is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- What pollinators does Sego Lily attract?
- Sego Lily draws bees and beetles.
- Is Sego Lily HOA-friendly?
- Sego Lily takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Sego Lily? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz