Sego Lily (Calochortus nuttallii) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,635 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Sego Lily: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sego Lily
Calochortus nuttallii — known as sego lily — is a bulbous perennial which is endemic to the Western United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sego Lily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 861 | June | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 176 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Colorado | 163 | June | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 89 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 75 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Idaho | 72 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Dakota | 67 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Mexico | 45 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 43 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 33 | June | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sego Lily?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is Sego Lily most often seen?
The most observations come from Utah, Wyoming, Colorado.