Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Liliaceae

Genus:

Calochortus

Species:

Calochortus leichtlinii

USDA Symbol:

CALE3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Geophyte

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Bulbs resprout after fire; species is adapted to fire-prone montane and chaparral-adjacent habitats in the Sierra Nevada.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained sandy soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to mountainous regions with dry summers

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate best with cold stratification; germination can be erratic and slow. Plant bulbs in fall for spring emergence.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI