The sego lily is the official state flower of Utah — a graceful white flower with a golden, purple-marked center.

• Official flower: Sego lily
• Scientific name: Calochortus nuttallii
• Year adopted: 1911
• Native range: the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains

About the sego lily

Utah adopted the sego lily in 1911. Beyond its beauty, the flower holds a special place in the state’s history: its nutritious bulbs helped feed Mormon pioneers during food shortages after they settled the Salt Lake Valley in the 1840s.

Where it grows

The sego lily grows in dry foothills, sagebrush flats, and open forests across the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains, blooming in early summer.

Utah state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Utah?

Utah’s state flower is the sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii), which it adopted in 1911.

When did Utah adopt its state flower?

Utah designated the sego lily as its official state flower in 1911.

Why is the sego lily important to Utah?

The sego lily’s edible bulbs helped feed Mormon pioneers during food shortages in the 1840s, which is part of why Utah honored it as the state flower.

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