The Lemon Lily, a monocot, is a perennial herb that is native to California, Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico. Known scientifically as the lilium parryi, it grows in continuously moist areas in mountain habitats, near streams, canyons and in wet meadows, between 4,200 to 9,800 feet in elevation.
In California it is currently known from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains and a few remaining spots near Palomar Mountain to the south. It is the only true lily native to Arizona, where a few populations can be found in the Huachuca, Chiricahua, and Santa Rita Mountains. In Mexico, it has been found in mountains in the states of Sonora and Baja California.
Its ideal growing conditions provide for full sun to partial shade, in moist soil. It tolerates seasonal flooding.
As a perennial herb, Lilium parryi grows erect to a little more than six feet in height from a scaly, elongated bulb up to 4.33 inches long. The leaves are generally linear in shape, up to 11.5 inches long, and usually arranged in whorls around the branched stem, and drooping at the tips. The inflorescence is a raceme bearing up to 31 large, showy, bright lemon yellow flowers, which curve lightly out to form a funnel-like throat. The trumpet-shaped, strongly fragrant flowers have six curling tepals up to 4.33 inches long, sometimes with a few reddish spots. There are six stamens tipped with large anthers up to half an inch long. The pistil may be four inches long. The flowers are pollinated by hawkmoths, especially Hyles lineata and Sphinx perelegans.
Lilium parryi is rare and protected in the state of Arizona and is also included in the California Native Plant Society inventory of rare and endangered plants.
Threats to this species include grazing, recreation, natural flooding and human alterations in water regimes, and horticultural collecting of the bulbs and flowers.
Lilium parryi was named for Charles Christopher Parry (28 August 1823 – 20 February 1890), a British-American botanist and mountaineer.
Idyllwild, across the San Bernardino County line in Riverside County, hosts the Lemon Lily Festival, which celebrates this species.
From Wikipedia and https://www.sevenoaksnativenursery.com/native-plants