Calochortus species with names starting with A and ending with B are pictured on this page.
Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index
Calochortus albus is a globe tulip form found in woodlands south of San Francisco Bay, California and through the Sierra Nevada foothills. There are two varietal names circulating, neither of which is officially recognized. However, we use it here for organizational convenience. These two varietal names, however, do not cover the variation found in this species. Thi species can be grown in a standard well drained mix. It likes a shady area with dappled sunlight but can be grown in practically full sun in areas very near the ocean where temperatures are cool. Seedlings grow faster if they are fertilized. Plants must be given a completely dry summer dormancy.
Photo 1 is from Mary Sue Ittner, photo 2 is from Ron Parsons of the Southern California form, a disjunct population that is similar to the Sierra Nevada form, and extends south into Northern Baja California. Photos 3-6 were taken by Nhu Nguyen of a robust form in the foothills of Mount Diablo, northern California.
The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen of plants grown from seeds of the Diablo Foothills form shown above.
Calochortus albus var. albus is a form that has mostly white tepals with a pinkish gland. Photos 1-3 were taken by Mary Sue Ittner growing on the Hite Cove Trail along the Merced River, blooming April 2005 with Triteleia ixioides ssp. scabra and Collinsia heterophylla. Photo 4 was taken by Nhu Nguyen of plants in habitat.
The photos below were taken of plants in cultivation. Photo 1 was taken by Doug Westfall on March 10, 2003. Photos 2-6 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photos 2-3 were taken at the UC Botanical Garden and photos 4-6 were of plants grown by Nhu Nguyen.
Calochortus albus var. rubellus is a form that is quite variable from blush red to bright red. Photo 1 is from a very dark population, Northwest Native Seed collection, photo by Mark Mazer. Photos 2-4 were taken by Nhu Nguyen of a plant from Telos Rare Bulbs.
Calochortus amabilis is found on open hillsides and in open woodlands in the Coast Ranges of California. It has yellow globe flowers and is known as Diogenes' Lantern. Its closest relative is the more robust Calochortus pulchellus which is endemic to Mount Diablo with greenish bracts. The bracts on C. amabilis are pure yellow. This species can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. In full sun, sometimes the leaves take on a purplish appearance. Except for sunlight, treat this species the same as C. albus.
The photos below were taken in habitat. Photos 1-2 by Bob Rutemoeller were taken on a population with unusual markings growing on a hillside in Sonoma County, CA. The first shows the habitat and the second is a close-up of the flowers. Photos 3-5 were taken by Nhu Nguyen in Napa Co., CA.
The photos below by Nhu Nguyen shows the drying seed pods, the seeds inside the pods, and the bulb. In photo 3, old bulb scales can be seen increasing in size each year as the bulb gets larger and goes deeper into the medium.
The photos below are of plants in cultivation. Photo 1 by Bob Rutemoeller is of a plant growing in a deep wooden box in a shaded area. Photos 2-3 were taken by Alan Horstmann. Photos 4-6 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photo 6 was taken at the Tilden Botanical Garden? with a pink Lewisia rediviva in the background.
Calochortus ambiguus, also known as the "Doubting Mariposa Lily" of "False Sego Lily" is most commonly found in Arizona, extreme southwest New Mexico, and Sonora, Mexico. The plants are usually found on rocky open slopes in juniper, pine or oak forests, or in meadows, in clay soils, at elevations of 1000-3300m. It is fairly closely related to Calochortus gunnisoni, but is distinguished by its different distribution, obtuse anthers and shorter gland. Photo by Ron Parsons
Calochortus amoenus is found in the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada, from Madera to Kern County, California. It is often found on north and western slopes, frequently on steep walls of river canyons. Known as the Rosy Fairy Lantern, it is similar to Calochortus albus, but has half closed two-toned petals. It has similar cultural requirements as C. albus.
Photos 1-2 were taken by Mary Sue Ittner in Kern County, California in April 2005 where they were growing on a grassy slope. In photo 2, the flower is turned upside down to see it from a bottom view. Photo 3 was taken by Mary Gerritsen in Tulare County, North Fork of the Tule River, April 2008.
The photos below are of plants in cultivation. Photo 1 was taken by Mary Sue Ittner and 2 by Kristina Van Wert of one in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens collection. Photos 3-5 were taken by Nhu Nguyen of a nice blooming in a one gallon pot.
Calochortus apiculatus has many common names, including "Three spot Mariposa Lily" and "Baker's Mariposa Lily (or Cat Ear)". It is a member of the Section Calochortus, subsection Eleganti. Flowers of subsection Eleganti are characterized by their bell-like bearded petals and upright orientation. Calochortus apiculatus is a northern species, one of the few (the others are Calochortus lyalli and Calochortus macrocarpus) that extend north of the border into Canada. This species is readily seen in mountain meadows of Glacier National Park (US) and the adjoining Waterton National Park (Canada). This is a species well adapted to cold winters and is a good choice for the northern gardener. The photos below were taken in July 2007, just south of Priest Lake in Bonner county, Idaho. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus argillosus is found on open grassy clay meadows in California.. There are three forms. The northern form has the most variety of colors and petal markings. Spots are banded and may include brick-red, yellow, and pink colors. Flowers are white often blushed pink. The first two photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner. The third shows the back of the flowers, equally beautiful, and was taken by Bob Rutemoeller. The last two photos were taken at Edgewood County Park, San Mateo County CA by Mary Gerritsen
The central form ranges from pale lavender to deep rich purple with colored petals on the front and back. The central spot is banded. The gland is transversely irregular and the flowers have a longitudinal pink blotch at the base of each segment.
The southern form is a satiny white and marked by a single dark red purple squarish or round spot above the gland which is wider than high and somewhat lunate. The first photo by Mary Sue Ittner and the second photo by Susan Hayek for Diana Chapman. The last two pictures were taken by Alan Horstmann.
Calochortus aureus is a species of the southwestern United States where is is found on flats and slopes, often among grasses in red clay soils at 750-2500 m. It is a member of the Nuttalliani subsection and has bright yellow flowers with a transverse, reddish-brown crescent or triangular blotch above the small fan shaped round or semicircular depressed gland. The gland is covered in white to yellowish hairs. Photos taken by Mary Gerritsen.
Calochortus balsensis is a summer flowering species from high elevations in Mexico. This species has glaucous, branched, bulbiferous 50-70 cm stems, that can bear one to four showing nodding, 2.5-3.5 cm flowers that appear almost squarish in profile. This species is restricted to the coastal mountains of Guerrero and Oaxaca. The climate here is tropical, with hot, humid and very rainy summers. These photos were taken by Mary Gerritsen in September of 2007 on a trip to see the Mexican Calochortus species with her co-author, Ron Parsons.
Calochortus barbatus is a summer grower from high elevations in Mexico where it grows on volcanic soils in forests. The first two photos by Sheila Burrow. The second picture was taken with the flower pegged so that it was front on instead of hanging, to see the marvelous interior. The last three pictures were taken in-situ in September near Texcoco in Mexico State where there are distinct rainy and dry seasons. C. barbatus is widely distributed throughout the Valley of Mexico and is common at elevations between 2200-3100 meters above sea level. It can be found in open fields, scrub-brush, Quercus forest, Pinus-Quercus forest, and roadside cuts. At this particular locality where these pictures were taken, this plant grows alongside Tigridia vanhouttei in rocky soils. Photos by Dennis Szeszko
This is a quite variable species with erect to somewhat lax, glaucous stems bearing two or more 2.5-3 cm descending to pendant flowers. It is a Mexican species in the Cyclobothra section of Calochortus, subsection Barbati. This species is quite widely distributed, ranging from southern Chihuahua to central Mexico and Oaxaca. The photos below are from a population that occured at an elevation of about 8000 ft above the city of Pachuca (September 2007). Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus bruneaunis is a wonderful species, with erect, 10-40 cm, usually unbranched and often bulbiferous stems bearing one to four flowers. It is a widespread species, found in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada and eastern California in high desert scrub, pine and juniper woodlands, at elevations of 700-3200 m. Photo of a plant in the White Mountains, Inyo County, California, by Ron Parsons.
Comments from Hugh McDonald of the Calochortus Society: A cold-winter desert species. Stratify the seeds. After they sprout, water once a week until they are an inch high, and then water once a month.
Calochortus species C-D - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index