At the time, Gray wasn't sure that it was a unique species, thinking that it might be a variety of Lilium canadense.

Sereno Watson, curator at the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, found several differences from Lilium canadense, confirming that it was a distinct species, and named the plant in honor of his colleague.

The 2.5 in (6.4 cm) reddish-orange bell-shaped flowers bloom in early summer and are carried on several umbels in a tiered style.

L. grayi tends to have smaller flowers that are less pendulous, more open at bottom, and more suddenly narrowed at the apex.

[10] Lilium grayi is native to mountainous regions in only three U.S. states: North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.