Triteleia species A-G are found on this wiki page.
Triteleia Hybrids -- Triteleia H-I — Triteleia J-Z -- Triteleia index
Triteleia bridgesii, is found on dry rocky bluffs and open woods usually in heavy soil in the northern Coast ranges and the northern and central Sierra foothills of California and into Oregon between 0 and 3000 ft. (0-915 meters). This picture from Mary Sue Ittner was taken in the native area of Bidwell park in Chico, California in April 2006.
These pictures from Mary Sue Ittner show a garden grown plant showing the shiny center of the flower and a picture of the corms on a 1 cm. square grid.
Here are two views of this very beautiful two-toned "Trit". The forms shown here were obtained as bulbs from Jim Robinett, and have proven to be very reliable, showy native bulbs growing here in my New England garden, USDA Zone 5. Photos by Mark McDonough.
Triteleia clementina or San Clemente Island Triteleia is a rare endemic of San Clemente Island in Southern California where it is found on damp clefts on rocky walls. It has light blue flowers on a 12 to 16 in. (30 to 40 cm.) stem, triangular filaments that are attached at two levels and purple anthers. It is supposed to bloom from March to April but in its first blooming from seed for me started blooming in January.
First three photos by Mary Sue Ittner, last two photos by Nhu Nguyen.
Triteleia crocea , commonly known as yellow triteleia or yellow triplet-lily is found in open conifer forests, dry slopes from southwest Oregon to northwest California between 4000 to 7000 feet (1200 to 2200 meters). It is a short plant of 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm.) with slender filaments attached at two levels, widely spreading lobes, and greenish brown median stripes. It blooms May to June. There are two subspecies.
Triteleia crocea ssp. crocea is bright yellow.
Triteleia crocea ssp. modesta has pale blue flowers with fringed tips. It is restricted to the Trinity Mountains in California and is found growing on serpentine.
Triteleia dudleyi is found in subalpine open pine forests in the southern Sierra Nevada in California. It is rare, being found only in Tulare County. It is short with yellow flowers and purple anthers. Although the filaments are all attached at the same level, they are not all the same length. It has a tube equal to or longer than the lobes as illustrated in one of these pictures. In spite of this being a high elevation plant. I have been able to grow it in my coastal Northern California garden. In habitat it blooms in July and August, but in my garden it blooms April-June. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Triteleia grandiflora is found from the most northern part of California north to southern British Columbia and east into Idaho, western Montana, western Wyoming, northern Utah, and possibly Colorado. It has pale blue (almost white) to deep blue flowers in a large head with long pedicels (flowering stems) and is distinguished from all the other triteleias by a rounded or cup-like base.
Triteleia grandifora ssp. grandiflora (previously known as Brodiaea douglasii) is found in grassy areas among sagebrush or in pine forests. It is tall, growing to 28 in. (70 cm.) and has ruffled or wavy petal lobes. It blooms from April to July.
Triteleia grandiflora ssp. howellii (previously known as Brodiaea douglasii howellii, Brodiaea howellii, or Triteleia howellii) is found from Washington south to a small area in northern California. It is found between 0 and 2296 feet (0 to 700 meters) in open, moist or dry places west of the Cascade Range. It is much shorter without the ruffled petals with deep violet flowers. It blooms in spring. Photos by Mark McDonough.
There is a single site for this triteleia on Vancouver Island, a small rocky projection jutting out into the sea on Gordon Head. A few small bulbs (smaller than garden peas) collected from this site many years ago have spread prolifically in a raised bed, to the point of becoming a pest. Most years there are no flowers and no seed has been set; you have to suspect that this is a sterile form devoted to vegetative self-propagation. Thanks to Adolf and Oluna Ceska for leading the writer to this site. Pictures are from the garden planting.
Photos by Rodger Whitlock
Triteleia guadalupensis is a rare plant found on Guadalupe Island of Mexico. It is described as bright yellow with dark veins.
Triteleia Hybrids -- Triteleia H-I — Triteleia J-Z – Triteleia index
Return to the PBS Wiki Photographs And Information page