Calochortus fimbriatus

Late-flowered mariposa lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Late-flowered mariposa lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Coastal Ranges and Transverse Ranges in dry, open coastal woodland and chaparral at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces pale cream to dark red-brown flowers with dense, long cream-white to yellow bordering hairs, creating a distinctive bell-shaped perianth. Growing with erect, slender stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall that are generally branched, it develops from a fibrous bulb. Its basal leaves extend 20 to 40 centimeters long and wither during flowering, while cauline leaves become progressively reduced and inrolled upward. The plant produces linear, angled fruits 4 to 5 centimeters long with an acuminate tip, emerging erect from the delicate stem.

Habitat: Dry, open coastal woodland, chaparral

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: < 900 m

Bioregions: SCoRO, WTR.

California counties: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, Los Angeles

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.