Bulb subglobose, 3.5--6 cm in diam.; scales lanceolate, 3--4.5 × 1--1.5 cm. Stem 0.6--2 m, scabrous. Leaves many, scattered, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 3--12 × 0.8--1.4 cm, glabrous, abaxially 3-veined. Flowers 4--9 in a raceme, nodding. Tepals revolute, primrose yellow or greenish yellow, rarely yellowish white, sometimes with purple blotches at base, oblong, narrowly oblong, or oblong-oblanceolate, 3--9 × 1--1.7 cm; inner ones slightly wider; nectaries not papillose. Filaments 4.5--5.5 cm, glabrous; anthers 1--1.2 cm. Ovary 1.5--1.7 cm × 2--3 mm. Style 4.2--5 cm. Capsule brownish, oblong, 4--7 × 2.8--3 cm.

Two varieties occur in China. Lilium primulinum var. primulinum occurs only in Myanmar and has primrose yellow tepals without blotches.

Forests, forest margins, thickets, grassy slopes; hillsides along ravines; 1100--3100 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand].