Yellow Mariposa Lily
Calochortus luteus
- Native to:
- United States
Eric in SF
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Genus:
- Calochortus
- Species:
- Calochortus luteus
- USDA Symbol:
- CALU9
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Geophyte
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, native pollinators
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Bulbs survive fire and often flower vigorously in first post-fire spring. Common in areas with periodic fire regimes in California grasslands and chaparral.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to open grasslands and hillsides
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cool-moist conditions in fall. Bulbs go dormant after spring flowering and require dry summer dormancy.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seeds are collected from whole fruits immediately prior to or after ripening. If capsules have not opened, they may need to be mechanically split. Large numbers of dry fruits may be shattered rapidly by very brief blending. After blending, seeds may be cleaned by sifting and/or blowing off chaff.
Source: npn.rngr.net