Calochortus species V through the end of the alphabet are found on this page.
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index
Calochortus venustulus, also known as the "Bearded Cyclobothra", is a wholly Mexican species, section Cyclobothra, subsection Ghiesbreghtiani. This is a fairly abundant species where found, and has erect 10-50 cm erect, glaucous, non-bulbiferous stems that bear 2-5 upright, shallow, campanulate to almost flat flowers. The range extends from northern Chihuahua to the Federal District, at elevations of 500-3500m. Photo by Mary Gerritsen.
Calochortus venustus, the most variable Calochortus species in terms of color, is found in both the California coast ranges and the Sierra Nevada. It is found in open grassland and in mountain meadows at at elevations ranging from sea level to 8,000 feet (2600m). Color ranges from various shades of red to white, yellow, orange, and purple. The petals are often blotched midway, with another paler blotch on top. The nectary is more or less square and densely covered with angled hairs. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner of garden grown plants except for the last one which was photographed in the Pinnacles National Monument in California in April 2005 where it was growing on a bank next to the road.
Here are some more color forms of this species. The first three photos were taken by Jane McGary show plants grown from seed provided in 1991 by the Robinetts and in 1999 by Ron Ratko, flowering in bulb frames in northwestern Oregon. The last is an almost white form with a single splotch purchased from the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden and photographed by Max Withers.
Mary Gerritsen, co-author of the book Calochortus, has posted several web albums with photos of even more C. venustus color forms that grow in the central Sierras. They can be found here and here. There are also some very nice color forms shown in the CalPhotos database here.
Because C. venustus has a very broad range, it's hard to generalize about how to grow it. The seeds of high-altitude varieties will probably require cold stratification in order to sprout (the most colorful forms generally grow at higher altitudes), and may be adapted to grow after the snow melts in spring. Low-altitude varieties may need protection from heavy frosts, and are likely to grow in winter. All need to be kept dry after they go dormant until the rains start in fall (usually October-November).
Calochortus vestae, is a large flowered North Coast (California) range species with a common name of Goddess Mariposa. This species increases by bulbils and likes a lot of water when in growth. It usually has a rust-colored gland that is shaped like a rounded inverted "w" (termed double lunate in some descriptions.) Flower color ranges from creamy white to lavender, pink, and even a few purple and magenta flowers in some populations. It grows in grassy meadows in heavy clay soils in full sun and in higher rainfall areas in serpentine. The first two photos below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller of a white version and a pink one that fades to white over time. The third photo was taken by Mary Sue Ittner showing the gland. The final two pictures were taken by Alan Horstmann.
The photos below were taken in late June, 2007 in the hills near Alderpoint, California. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus weedii var. weedii is from southern California (San Diego and Riverside Counties). It grows from sea level to the mountains, in chaparral often growing through shrubs to reach the sun. It has yellow-orange petals flecked reddish brown and is densely hairy with fringed petal margins. This species is reported to be difficult to keep going in cultivation. This bulb from Telos Rare Bulbs finally bloomed the 3rd year after it was purchased (July 2003) and although this species is reported to have two to six flowers, there was only one. But it was very beautiful. The first two photos shown below taken by Bob Rutemoeller show the flowers from the front and the back. After these pictures were added to the wiki there were no further blooms in 2004 or 2005 and I thought I had lost it. However it bloomed again in July 2006 and this time there were two flowers. Mary Sue Ittner took the third photo of these flowers. The fourth photo below photographed by Ron Parsons is from a wild population in Monterey County, California. The last photo from San Diego County was taken by Jim Duggan.
Calochortus weedii var. intermedius, so called because its flowers appear intermediate between Calochortus weedii var. weedii and Calochortus plummerae is a rare taxon, found in Orange County, California, at elevations from sea level up to 700 m. It usually blooms in June to early July. This photo below from a wild population in Orange County, by Ron Parsons.
Calochortus weedii var. vestus. The first photos from Jane McGary is of plants grown from bulbs purchased from Telos Rare Bulbs. Plunged in an unheated bulb frame in northwestern Oregon, they flower in late July. The next three pictures from Mary Sue Ittner show the first blooming from Northwest Native seeds. Photos were taken on different days to show the progression.
Calochortus westonii is a plant of the southern Sierra Nevada. It has small flowers on short stems, but the tiny flowers are very pretty. I was able to grow it from seed and get it to flower once in coastal Northern California in spite of the fact that it naturally spends the winter under snow. It probably needs to be chilled every year for best performance. Photo by Bob Rutemoeller. The second photo by Ron Parsons is of a wild population found in Kern County, California.
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index