Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri

Palmer's mariposa lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Palmer's mariposa lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Tehachapi Mountains, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and San Jacinto Mountains in meadows and yellow-pine forest habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this lily produces white to lavender flowers with distinctive yellow-hairy nectaries, typically 4 to 6 centimeters long with gently recurved petals. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with slender stems that develop distinctive bulblets, it has an elegant, delicate appearance characteristic of mariposa lilies. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically 10 to 20 centimeters long, emerging from the base of the plant in a sparse, linear arrangement. The plant is distinguished by its unique reproductive strategy, forming small bulblets that allow for vegetative reproduction in addition to its stunning floral display.

Habitat: Meadows, vernally moist places in yellow-pine forest, chaparral

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 1200-2200 m

Bioregions: Teh, s CW, TR, SnJt.

California counties: San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Ventura

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