Calochortus monophyllus
Yellow star-tulip
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Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Calochortus monophyllus (Yellow star-tulip) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by distinctive yellow star-tulip with brown-clawed petals.
Yellow star-tulip is a California native perennial found in the Cascade Range foothills, southwestern High Sierra Nevada, and northern and central Sierra Nevada in wooded slopes with clay-loam soils at elevations of 400 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces deep yellow flowers with red-brown spots near the base, bell-shaped and approximately 16 to 20 millimeters long with brown-fringed, densely hairy petals. Growing with slender, sometimes wavy stems 8 to 20 centimeters tall, the plant emerges from a basal leaf 10 to 30 centimeters long. Its single basal leaf is persistent, with 0 to 3 smaller cauline leaves that become progressively reduced upward, ranging from 1 to 7 centimeters long and lanceolate to linear in shape. The plant produces nodding, winged fruits 12 to 20 millimeters long, which contain irregular dark brown seeds with a distinctive net-like pattern.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinctive yellow star-tulip with brown-clawed petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wooded slopes, clay-loam soils
Elevation: 400-1200 m
California counties: El Dorado, Butte, Amador, Calaveras, Placer, Nevada, Tehama, Tuolumne, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra, Shasta, Lake, Humboldt, Solano, Mariposa, San Bernardino
Outside California: to southern Oregon
Bloom period
Calochortus monophyllus blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Clarkia: Calochortus has 6 stamens and grass-like leaves; Clarkia has 8 stamens and broad stem leaves.; vs Fritillaria: Calochortus flowers open upward/outward in cups; Fritillaria flowers hang downward like bells.; vs Thismia: Calochortus has green leaves and open flowers; Thismia is leafless with closed tubular flowers.; vs Eschscholzia: Calochortus has 6 petals and parallel-veined leaves; Eschscholzia has 4 petals and divided leaves.; vs Sidalcea: Calochortus has 6 petals and grass-like leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and rounded lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calochortus monophyllus native to California?
Yes. Calochortus monophyllus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calochortus monophyllus bloom?
Calochortus monophyllus blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Calochortus monophyllus grow?
Calochortus monophyllus occurs in El Dorado, Butte, Amador, Calaveras, Placer, Nevada, Tehama, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 400-1200 m.
What plant family does Calochortus monophyllus belong to?
Calochortus monophyllus is in the Liliaceae family, genus Calochortus.
What habitat does Calochortus monophyllus grow in?
Calochortus monophyllus grows in Wooded slopes, clay-loam soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.