Discover the Official State Flower of Utah (When It Blooms and Where to See It!)

Utah’s official state flower is the sego lily, a Native American sacred plant. Sego is a Shoshonean word that means “edible bulb.” Ordinarily, sego lilies thrive in places with desert-like conditions and often bloom from around May and June. The sego plant comes in about seven variations.

The first is the white flower species which shows three huge but waxy petals. The plant’s petals are on the inside and have distinct features (the crescent shape with purple markings and a colorful yellow hair fringe). Its leaves often wither when the plant is flowering and will often look like grass since it appears sparse.

Also worth noting is that the flower is edible and used to curb hunger among the Mormon pioneers. The flower is colorful and inviting even when cooked, as it retains most of its color during cooking.

The beginners of the tribe that lived between 1848 to 49 consumed the sego lily bulb. The size of the bulbs varied, with most being as small as marbles, but some could get large and resemble walnuts. It is best to have the bulbs freshly cooked since they tend to become ropey and thick.

As of the 1800s, the early dwellers of the region ate the bulb and perceived themselves to be different from newcomers who ventured into Salt Lake Valley. It symbolized resilience and tenacity from their harsh conditions as early dwellers. At the time, it was a virtue to consume the bulb.

History of the Sego Lily Flower

The scientific name of the sego lily is Calochortus nuttalli. It is often used today as an ornamental plant. However, the earlier dwellers of Utah consumed the bulb to keep off hunger.

You will likely come across the sego lily in dry areas with vast open pine forests with hillsides measuring 5,000 to 8,000 feet in height. The sego flower resembles the tulip in its appearance, only that it has three petals ranging from white to lavender with yellow bases. Their green sepals come lance-shaped with sharp points.

The original dwellers of Utah used the flower for culinary purposes. They would roast, make a porridge out of it, or even boil the flower before consuming it. Besides that, the plant is also considered a native plant to several other western states, including Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and Nebraska.

How the Sego Lily Came to be the State Flower of Utah

By 18th March 1911, the state of Utah, through the Utah State Legislature, chose to front the sego lily as their state flower. In early 1913, the LDS General Relief Society Board embraced it as the official emblem. By the time World War 1 hit, the sego lily had already become the peace symbol.

Some of the residents of Utah can attest to having eaten the sego lily. However, most prefer taking pictures of the harsh Utah desert sunsets. Many also enjoy it as it blossoms in Spring as the flower is loved for nourishing the soul and human senses.

How the Sego Lily is Used

The rich and long history of the sego lily has pushed people to keep using it for culinary purposes and cultivating it for beauty, just like the tulip. A good example would be the Native Americans who utilize the bulb, seeds, and flowers in their food. This was common among the Ute, Southern Paiute, Hopi, and Navajo folks. The Hopi people used the Utah state flower in important ceremonies.

Currently, the flower is majorly used for ornamental purposes; its cultivation in Utah is encouraged for its beautiful nature and shape. It is also important for pollination as the flowers attract native pollinators.

These plants are easy to grow as long as there are well-drained soils. They prefer sandy soils, more so cold and hardy ones. Most new plants are propagated through bullets and take up to 2 years to flower.

Appearance of the Sego Lily

The flower is best described as a monocot with a single stem and one huge flower. It’s one of the most beautiful flowers in the desert region, especially when it blooms. Unfortunately, the flower does not last long as it dries up quickly after blossoming.

The Utah state flower is smooth and stain-like when describing how it feels. As for colors, it often is white with cherry red influences and some yellow elements on the base or glands.

Its size is impressive as it measures 3 inches across, making it stand out.

The sego lily’s leaves are almost like grass. They resemble the basal leaf and come with a few leafy stems. Usually, the plant is often confused for the deathcamas before it flowers, but the through-like leaves with cross sections differentiate it from the deathcamas, the leaves of which are V-shaped.

Is the Utah State Flower Edible?

The sego lily is edible. The bulb is the most edible part and can be consumed raw or, if you prefer, cooked. All it takes is to get rid of the outer husk

The unique flavor is crisp and nutty when eaten raw. It also tends to have a pleasant savory taste to it. Some people prefer drying the bulbs and consuming them instead of cooking. You can grind a dried flower into a powder and then added to flour for an extra flavor twist.

Besides the flower, the plant’s leaves are also edible. You can add it to your potherb and make a concoction. However, it is not best to use the leaves as they are too few to make any meaningful food.

The seeds are consumed by grinding them into a powder, fine enough to add to drinks and flours. The flower bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked, depending on one’s preference.

Many prefer consuming flowers in a salad bowl. It works if you are the kind of person that prefers nutty tastes, not to mention the numerous nutrients you will get.

The Utah State flower is one of the best Native American flowers today. Besides its numerous benefits and uses, it remains a significant symbol for Utah State and its citizens.