Calochortus species starting with Lu and ending with N are found on this page.
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index
Calochortus luteus is one of the more common mariposas found in foothills throughout the Coast Ranges and western Sierra Nevada foothills of California. It is found in grassy meadows and banks, either flat or gently sloped. It has yellow flowers in various shades of yellow, with varying degrees of penciling or red-brown lines and sometimes with a red-brown circular blotch above the gland.
This species is one of the easiest Calochortus to grow in a summer-dry climate. Seeds should be sown in a well-drained soil, and not watered until temperatures drop in the autumn. They do not need to be cold-stratified. Water weekly until the leaves start to die back (usually May-June in the northern hemisphere), and keep the seed pot in dry shade until the next autumn. As noted above, if given great drainage, cultivars of this species may be able to survive in-ground in summer-wet climates.
The photos below by Mary Sue Ittner were taken in Merced County, California in April 2005 where they were growing in a grassy area with Brodiaea californica ssp. leptandra and Triteleia hyacinthina.
The photos below were taken by Mary Gerritsen on Mount Tamalpais (Marin County, CA) where these plants can be seen in the various grassy meadows.
The photos below were taken on the Tiburon Peninsula, at the base of Ring Mountain. Photo 1 was taken by Mary Gerritsen and photos 2-4 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photo 4 shows the plant growing with the Tiburon dark purple form of Triteleia laxa and photo 5 shows the flowers blending in with a yellow and orange form of California poppies.
These pictures by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner show some of the variations in form of garden grown plants.
Calochortus luteus 'Golden Orb' is a cultivar of outstanding beautiful yellow flowers. It was selected from a wild form of the species. Photos 1 was taken by Doug Westfall of a plant grown in a container. Photos 2-4 were taken by Mark McDonough of plants growing in his northern Massachusetts garden. He grows these summer dormant bulbs at the base of shrubs and small trees, which seems to work well. The stems are tall, to 30" (75 cm), topped with many buds and startling bowl-shaped yellow flowers, speckled brown within. The individual blooms last a good long time, thus are useful for bright color in late June through July. These bulbs came from Paige Woodward at Pacific Rim Nursery.
Calochortus macrocarpus is the sole member of the Section Mariposa, Subsection Macrocarpi. The flowers characteristically have sepals that exceed the petals, a triangular nectary with branched processes, and bulbs with membranous tunics. Also known as the "Sagebrush Mariposa Tulip, or Green-Band Mariposa Tulip Calochortus macrocarpus is one of the largest flowered Calochortus species, in addition to the honor of being one of the most widespread species. It is found in southern British Columbia, east to Idaho, Montana, and south through Washington, Idaho, and northeast California. There is also a disjunct population in Elko County Nevada. The plants are found in full sun in open prairie, high desert (usually around sagebrush) , pine forests, and high montane forests. It is often found in volcanic, ultramafic or sandy soils at elevations from 330-2700m.
The Calochortus Society pointed out that this species is at home in the brutal climate in and around the Great Basin, where it tolerates winter lows down to -30F (-34C) with little snow cover, and dry summers with highs of about 110F (43C). It would typically get about 15 inches (38cm) of precipitation per year. Bulbs from this climate generally grow in a short season from late winter to early summer. Growers with mild wet winters will need to protect the plants, perhaps by growing them in pure sand or covering them to block most of the rain. The bulbs need to stay cold and dry for the first part of winter. The Calochortus Society recommended starting seeds in late fall by cold-stratifying them for 6-8 weeks, so they will germinate in mid-winter to early spring. The recommendation was to give them an inch (2.5 cm) of water per week until seedlings are an inch tall, and then an inch of water every two weeks. Dry summers are essential.
The photos below were taken by Mary Gerritsen from a population on the eastern flanks of the Cascades, Washington, July 2007.
Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus is generally white, with greenish sepals shorter than the nominate race and typically found in hot dry canyons in Idaho and northeast Oregon. Photos from Mary Gerritsen. The first photo shows a population just east of Lewiston Idaho July 2007.
Calochortus mendozae is the most recently described Mexican species (2005). Thus far it has only been found in a very limited area near the municipality of San Nicolas Tolentina in the state of San Luis Potosi. This species is in section Cyclobothra, subsection Ghiesbreghtiani. Photo by Mary Gerritsen (September 2007).
Calochortus minimus is a very small subalpine species. It grows in moist open woodlands, meadows and lake edges 1200-3000m. The species blooms in the summer. The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen from Yosemite National Park, CA. Photo 6 shows a plant next to a set of keys for scale.
Calochortus monophyllus is a woodlands species from the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is a dwarf species and prefers part shade. The flowers are golden yellow, with or without dark red-brown spots and plenty of hairs.
Photo 1 was taken by Bob Rutemoeller and the second by Mary Sue Ittner is of wild populations seen in Butte County, California. Photo 3 by Mary Gerritsen is of a wild population in Tuolumne County, CA. Photo 4 was taken by Nhu Nguyen of a wild plant in El Dorado County, CA.
The photos below are of plants in cultivation. Photo 1 was taken by Bob Rutemoeller and photos 2-5 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photos 4-5 were taken at the Tilden Botanical Garden?.
Calochortus nigrescens is one of the Mexican species, section Cyclobothra, subsection Barbati. It is also known as the "Black Cyclobothra". This species seems to be quite rare (recently only found in the state of Oaxaca, although it was apparently originally collected in Puebla) and where it does occur, it is either in wetlands surrounded by dry areas or in watercourses. The species is quite diminutive and can be quite difficult to find even in a locality where it is known to occur. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus nitidus is found in low meadows, along creeks, in southeastern Washington and adjacent Idaho. It has large purple flowers with a deep purple crescent on each petal above the gland and some long flexuous hairs. My bulbs were originally purchased from the Robinett Bulb farm and rarely bloomed until I started making sure they had water during their summer dormancy. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner showing the beautiful back and looking down on the flower. I found it a little difficult to photograph.
The photos of Calochortus nitidus below were taken at a site south of Moscow, Idaho, July 2007. The photo on the far right gives an idea of the habitat. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus nudus, commonly known as the "Naked Star Tulip" has a 7-25 cm erect stem usually unbranched, with one to three 15-25 cm flowers (although occasionally as many as six may be found). This species is found in Jackson County Oregon, south to the central Sierra Nevada of California. It is typically found in mountain valleys with vernally moist, grassy meadows, shady conditions, and often near water, elevation 1000-2500 m. The photos below are from a population near Castle Crags State Park, Lassen County, California. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus nuttallii, also known as the Sego Lily, is the state flower of Utah. In Utah, it is well known as the bulb that the early Mormon settlers dug up and ate, saving them from starvation when food had become very scarce after a crop-devouring plague of crickets (1840-1851). This is a very elegant and widespread species, with erect to somewhat lax stems 10-40 cm bearing one to five open cup shaped flowers. The petals are usually white, but pink, lavender, orange and even plum colored forms have been seen.
Comments from Hugh McDonald of the Calochortus Society: Has a wide range, growing from Nevada to the Dakotas. Seeds from the coldest areas may need stratification, but McDonald reported that it was relatively easy to grow in the San Francisco Bay area. Tolerates some summer water, but is also OK with summer drought. McDonald grew it under the western eaves of his house and watered it once every three weeks. In lowland California, seeds germinate best if kept in a cold part of the yard and gradually acclimated to the sun.
The photos below were taken at various sites in western Colorado (e.g. Colorado National Monument) and nearby areas in eastern Utah (e.g. Arches National Park) in late May, 2007. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index