Fritillaria glauca
Siskiyou fritillaria
(c) Justin Paulin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Fritillaria glauca (Siskiyou fritillaria) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by glaucous leaves and widely winged fruits diagnostic.
Siskiyou fritillaria is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in northwestern California in serpentine talus slopes and rocky habitats at elevations of 600 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces nodding flowers with lance-oblong perianth parts that are predominantly purple or green marked with yellow, featuring distinctive maroon-dotted green nectaries. Growing 8 to 20 centimeters tall with a large bulb containing 3 to 9 scales, it develops 2 to 4 alternate leaves that are glaucous, lance-oblong, and sickle-shaped, measuring 3.5 to 9 centimeters long. Its leaves have a distinctive bluish-gray appearance, spreading along the slender stem in an alternate arrangement. The fruit is widely winged, adding to the plant's unique botanical characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; glaucous leaves and widely winged fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes, serpentine
Elevation: 600-2100 m
California counties: Tehama, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, Colusa, Del Norte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Humboldt
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Fritillaria glauca blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 glauca native to California?
Yes. Fritillaria glauca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fritillaria glauca bloom?
Fritillaria glauca blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Fritillaria glauca grow?
Fritillaria glauca occurs in Tehama, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, Colusa, Del Norte, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 600-2100 m.
What plant family does Fritillaria glauca belong to?
Fritillaria glauca is in the Liliaceae family, genus Fritillaria.
Is Fritillaria glauca rare or endangered?
Fritillaria glauca carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.