Sego Lilly—Calochortus nuttallii

Sego-lily was an important food plant not only to the Native Americans, but the settlers as well. It is reported to have saved the Mormon settlers from starvation when grasshoppers destroyed their crops.
The bulbs are both nutritious and quite tasty. They can be eaten raw, but were usually roasted over charcoals or boiled. The bulbs were also dried and stored for future use. Flour was made from the pounded dried bulbs, and used to make bread and as a thickening agent. The seeds were ground into a meal and used to make cakes.

The lovely creamy white flowers are considered a delicacy and can be eaten raw in salads.
Medicinally, it is reported that the juice from the leaves was used topically for pimples. A tea from the whole dried plant was given to women after childbirth.
These days the lilies are rare and endangered in many areas. Since harvesting the fragile plant will destroy it, we ask that it not be used in the wild. However you may want to include this beautiful plant in your garden.
DeeAnn Tracy