Plant · GBIF taxon 2753371
Formosa lily
Lilium formosanumAlso known as Taiwan Lily, Formosan Lily, Taiwanese Lily
Formosa lily stands out with impressive stems reaching up to two meters tall, topped by fragrant, white trumpet-shaped flowers flushed with purplish-red on the outside. Endemic to Taiwan's grassy hillsides and mountain slopes, it produces dense clusters of light, winged seeds that drift readily on the wind, allowing it to colonize open ground rapidly. While cherished for its magnificent blooms, it easily escapes cultivation and has established naturalized populations across multiple continents.
Showy FlowersFragrantWildflower
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Lily leaf beetles
ThreatsHabitat modification; invasive behavior outside native range
HabitatsGrasslands, mountain slopes, roadsides, disturbed soils
Life spanPerennial (several years to decades from bulbs)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyLiliaceae
- SpeciesLilium formosanum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- All parts are extremely toxic to cats if ingested; keep plants away from pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains water-soluble toxins that cause severe, acute kidney failure in domestic cats, even in minute amounts from pollen ingestion.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for tall, slender stems bearing large white trumpet flowers with purplish-red streaks on the exterior petals.
- What to do
- Do not bring cut stems into households with cats, and wash hands thoroughly after touching plants.
Responsible observation
- Observe from a distance: Enjoy the fragrant blooms in gardens or along trails without cutting wild stems.
- Protect pets: Keep cut flowers and garden plants strictly out of reach of domestic cats.
- Manage seed spread: Deadhead seed capsules before they ripen to prevent invasive spreading.
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