Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana
Hillsborough chocolate lily
(c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana (Hillsborough chocolate lily) is a native California perennial in the Liliaceae family, recognized by narrow leaves and ill-scented flowers diagnostic.
Hillsborough chocolate lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in San Francisco Bay Area bioregion in serpentine soil habitats at elevations around 150 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces bell-shaped brownish-purple flowers approximately 1.5 to 2 centimeters long with a distinctive ill-scented characteristic. Growing to a moderate height with delicate linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves 3 to 6 millimeters wide, it emerges sparsely in its serpentine landscape. Its leaves are slender and elongated, arranged in a sparse pattern typical of this rare lily variety. The plant represents a unique endemic variation adapted to the specialized serpentine soils of San Mateo County.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; narrow leaves and ill-scented flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine soil
Elevation: +- 150 m.
California counties: San Mateo, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Lilium: Fritillaria has dark glandular spots in the lower half of each petal; Lilium petals lack these nectary patches.; vs Calochortus: Fritillaria flowers droop downward with glands inside; Calochortus flowers face upward or outward.; vs Platanthera: Fritillaria has 6 similar bell-shaped petals; orchid flowers have distinctly different upper and lower petals.; vs Clintonia: Fritillaria flowers hang downward with internal glands; Clintonia flowers stand upright and produce berries.; vs Maianthemum: Fritillaria has large drooping bells with 6 petals; Maianthemum has tiny 4-parted flowers in clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana native to California?
Yes. Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana bloom?
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana grow?
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana occurs in San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of +- 150 m..
What plant family does Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana belong to?
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana is in the Liliaceae family, genus Fritillaria.
Is Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana rare or endangered?
Fritillaria biflora var. ineziana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.