Fritillaria gentneri
Gentner's fritillary
(c) Pacific Southwest Region，保留部分权利（CC BY） · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Fritillaria gentneri (Gentner's fritillary) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by large bell-shaped flowers with distinctive coloration.
Gentner's fritillary is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Cascade Range and High Sierra Nevada in dry woodland at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces nodding bell-shaped flowers with blue-red or purple perianth parts checkered in yellow, creating a distinctive mottled appearance. Growing 50 to 70 centimeters tall with a large bulb and stems bearing whorls of 3 to 5 leaves below and alternate leaves above, it develops widely linear to lanceolate leaves up to 15 centimeters long. Its leaves are arranged in distinctive whorls, with lower leaves clustered in groups of 3 to 5 and upper leaves alternating along the stem. The distinctive flower features a yellow linear nectary and perianth parts that spread dramatically, with style branches spreading or slightly recurved.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; large bell-shaped flowers with distinctive coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry woodland
Elevation: 300-1500 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Fritillaria gentneri blooms Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 gentneri native to California?
Yes. Fritillaria gentneri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fritillaria gentneri bloom?
Fritillaria gentneri blooms Apr.
What plant family does Fritillaria gentneri belong to?
Fritillaria gentneri is in the Liliaceae family, genus Fritillaria.
Is Fritillaria gentneri rare or endangered?
Fritillaria gentneri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Fritillaria gentneri grow in?
Fritillaria gentneri grows in dry woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.