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Veratrum californicum | corn lily

These are striking, yet rarely encountered plants that we are thrilled to offer! They are quite difficult to propagate and represent years of work. Despite difficulty with propagation, they are easy to grow, though flowering can take several years. Immense, branched panicles. Best grown in full sun to dappled shade on moist, rich soil.

Corn lily is a US native that can be found growing from Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains. It is the showiest of all the veratrum species with large pleated leaves and extremely tall (up to 8 ft!) flower stalks. The unbranched flower stalks resemble corn (if you really use your imagination), but they hold showy, star-shaped, creamy-white flowers. Deer and rodent resistant.

WARNING: The roots of this plant are extremely toxic. All parts of this plant contain steroidal alkaloids that are poisonous to some livestock. Especially poisonous to sheep.

Zones: 4 to 9
Family: Melanthiaceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 36 to 72 in.
Spread: 24 to 48 in.
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Conditions: Average
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Color: ivory-white to greenish-white
Native Range: Washington south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains

Special Characteristics

Rabbit resistant
Winter interest
Architectural

image credits

Image 1 (flower) Patrick Sowers, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 2 (foliage) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 3 (form) Dcrjsr, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons