What is the State Flower of Utah?

The Sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii is the state flower of Utah. Its scientific name is Calochortus nuttallii. It belongs to the Liliaceae family. Calochortus is the genus of the Sego lily and its species is C. nuttallii. The Utah’s state flower Sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii is commonly known Sego Lily and also called mariposas (or mariposa lilies) globe lilies, fairy lanterns, cat’s ears and star tulips. The Sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Liliaceae , which native to a number of western states including Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii flowers are the most popular flower in Utah due to its eye-catching color, beautiful appearance and historical background. It is found all through the state of Utah.
The Utah’s state flower sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii was accepted as the official state flower of Utah by the Ninth Regular Session of the Legislature of the State of Utah after a census of Utah school children. The legislation was signed by Governor William Spry on March 18, 1911.

It has also a historical background and that is “Kate C. Snow, President of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, in a letter to George Earlie Shankle, written from Salt Lake City, dated April 17, 1930 says in part that,”between 1840 and 1851″food became very scarce in Utah due to a crop-devouring plague of crickets, and that “the families were put on rations, and during this time they learned to dig for and to eat the soft, bulbous root of the sego lily. The memory of this use, quite as much as the natural beauty of the flower, caused it to be selected in after years by the Legislature as the floral emblem of the state.”

State Flower of Utah Facts:

Common Name: Sego Lily and also called mariposas (or mariposa lilies) globe lilies, fairy lanterns, cat’s ears and star tulips
Genus: Calochortus
Species: Calochortus nuttallii
Found in: native to a number of western states including Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Color: white flowers marked with purple, lilac, or yellow,
Number of petals: Three
Period of blooming: May to June
Purpose: ornamental plant
Symbolism: Hope, Faith, Birth, Purity, Renewal, Promise, Passion, Becoming, Chastity, Innocence, Fertility, Cleansing, Motherhood, Remembrance, Transitioning

The Utah’s state flower Sego Lily or Calochortus nuttallii flourish in a reasonably wet sandy soil and choose hotter environments with coverage of full sunlight. It needed minimum maintenance to grow the large amount of blossom. The blossoms of sego lily quite large in size and have become popular along with which are grown in larger garden beds. The Sego Lily or Calochortus nuttallii flourish in late summer. The flower has three big, white, tulip-like petals.

The petals are bent upwards to look like a cup. It has been found dark purple color in the center of the flower. The flower can grow up to eighteen inches in height.The flower have pollinated through bulbs. Generally the plant starts blooming after couple of years from its growing. Its seeds can use for new plantation. Unfortunately it has no fragrant.

In the ancient time the Native Americans who were living in the great Utah valley are reported to roast or boiled the bulbs of the plants for making a variety of porridge to be eaten.

The state flower of Utah, USA is undoubtedly an eye-catching beauty that grows in plenty throughout the state. Because of its stunning gorgeousness and the frequent occurrence in nature in Utah, Which symbolize the peoples with Hope, Faith, Birth, Purity, Renewal, Promise, Passion, Becoming, Chastity, Innocence, Fertility, Cleansing, Motherhood, Remembrance, Transitioning that make it natural fit for the state to choose.