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Where
the garden meets the wild
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CALOCHORTUS MARIPOSA, BUTTERFLY LILY Liliaceae (Lily family) / Calochortaceae (Calochortus family) |
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Calochortus venustus. Photograph © Pat Woodward |
These Tulip cousins are native to W North America and Mexico. We offer five from the glorious Mariposa ~ or butterfly ~ section that look like tie-dyed silk. Belying their delicate appearance, four grow well outdoors in our wet Zone 6, complete with winter monsoons. The "outdoor" plants belong to the Venusti group of Mariposa. We grow them in a rock garden ~ a gritty, well aerated, raised bed laced with calcium, mostly in the form of tufa. All calochortus, indoors or out, need excellent drainage and a dry summer after they bloom in May-July. | |
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The taxonomy of Calochortus is vexed, but sweetly so. How hard can it be to examine beauty closely? Formal revisions of the genus are promised. Meanwhile, to tell one species from another, forget flower color and shape. Look at the nectaries and the blotches on the petals. Much of our stock descends from bulbs grown from wild seed by Jim Robinett, a true plantsman who was devoted to conserving the bulbs of W North America until his untimely death in April 2001. Calochortus resources are here. |
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Photograph by Brother Alfred Brousseau, © St. Mary's College of California. |
Calochorthus luteus
Lindley. Golden mariposa. Gold nuggets. Several
bright yellow flowers per stem bloom in succession. The nectary is
crescent-shaped and there is usually a maroon blotch above it. This is the
"classic" form of California's most widespread mariposa. It is
adapted to grassy slopes and meadows on heavy soil in moderate rainfall,
and tolerates serpentine soil. Prefers
full sun. Produces stem bulblets at
ground level. Our plants are nursery propagated. Height 20-50 cm
(8-20"). Zone 6. Bulb (Fall shipping only). $2.00, 5/ C$8.00 |
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Photograph © Pat Woodward |
Calochorus
luteus Lindley. Golden mariposa (Robinett stock). Some
of these plants have "extra" maroon brush marks on the tips of
their petals, as in our picture. Others look more like the
"classic" clone above. We can't guarantee which flower
form you'll get. It's luck of the draw. Other details as in the previous
item. Not available this season. |
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Photograph © Dorrie Woodward |
Calochortus macrocarpus Douglas. Sagebrush mariposa. One or two large pink flowers per plant in June-July. Native to sagebrush territory from California to British Columbia. Our plants are grown from seed by Devon and Ellen Hancock near Dog Creek, in BC's Cariboo region. Height 20-50 cm (8-20"). Cold is unlikely to be a problem (the Cariboo is Zone 3), but if you get more than 50 cm (20") of rain a year, shelter this beauty in a glasshouse or cold frame. Not available this season. |
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Photographs © Pat Woodward |
Calochortus superbus J.T. Howell. Proud mariposa. Eye-spot mariposa. Several flowers per stem bloom in succession. The petals may be rose, violet or yellow, but are usually white, with maroon "pencilling" at the base and a maroon eye-spot ringed in yellow. The nectary is usually shaped like an inverted U or V. This species crosses often in the wild with Calochortus luteus; it is possible that some of our plants are natural hybrids. Native to flat or gently sloping bunchgrass meadows and open woods in California. Tolerates serpentine soil. Prefers full sun. Height 40-60 cm (16-24"). Our stock is from several nursery sources, and from wild seed we grew ourselves. Bulb (Fall shipping only). $2.00, 5/ C$8.00 |
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Photographs © Pat Woodward |
Calochortus venustus Benth. Beautiful mariposa. Several flowers per stem bloom in succession. Petals may be red, rose, violet or yellow, but are usually white, with "pencilling" at the base. The nectary is squarish; there are often two petal spots, one below the other, and these markings may appear to smear upward above the nectary. Adapted to open woods and steep banks in California. Prefers part shade. Some of our plants descend from bulbs received from Jim Robinett; others descend from other nurseries and from wild seed we grew ourselves. Height 40-60 cm (16-24"). Not available this season. |
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Calochortus venustus
Benth. Beautiful mariposa, two-spot form (Robinett stock). The primary spot on the
petal is red to maroon. A second spot above it is much paler, but distinct.
These plants, selected by us, descend from a group of bulbs received from
Jim Robinett that included many forms of Calochortus venustus. We
sorted them on the basis of an article by Jim and his wife, Georgie, that
was published after we received the bulbs. Native to the South Coast ranges of California.
Height
40-60 cm (16-24"). Not available this season. |
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Photograph © Pat Woodward |
Calochortus vestae Carl Purdy. Goddess mariposa (Robinett
stock). Petal colors
vary from white (most common) to deep rose, magenta and red. The
nectary looks like a rounded M. There is usually one petal spot in a yellow
zone and the colors look "smeared" sideways. Multiplies by offsets. Part-day shade. Native to grassy meadows in California's North Coast
Range. Height
30-50 cm (12-20"). Not available this season. |
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Calochortus
resources
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| This page was updated Jan. 14, 2007 | ||
