Calochortus palmeri
Palmer's mariposa lily
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Calochortus palmeri (Palmer's mariposa lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family.
Palmer's mariposa lily is a California native perennial found in rocky or open habitats at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to lavender flowers 20 to 30 millimeters long with distinctive yellow hairs near the nectary and occasional brown spots on the petals. Growing with straight, glaucous stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall that are generally branched and produce small bulblets, it develops distinctive erect flowering stalks. Its basal leaves are narrowly linear and 10 to 20 centimeters long, withering during flowering, while its 1 to 3 cauline leaves are progressively reduced upward. The fruit is an erect, linear capsule 2 to 5 centimeters long with distinct angular sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from congeners in most of range
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, San Diego
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 palmeri native to California?
Yes. Calochortus palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Calochortus palmeri grow?
Calochortus palmeri occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, San Diego.
What plant family does Calochortus palmeri belong to?
Calochortus palmeri is in the Liliaceae family, genus Calochortus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Calochortus palmeri var. munzii — San jacinto mariposa lily
- Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri — Palmer's mariposa lily
- Calochortus panamintensis — Panamint mariposa lily
- Calochortus persistens — Siskiyou mariposa lily
- Calochortus plummerae — Plummer's mariposa lily
- Calochortus pulchellus — Mount diablo fairy-lantern
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.