Fritillaria liliacea

Fragrant fritillary

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Fragrant fritillary is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Solano County and central western California regions in heavy soil, open hills, and coastal fields at elevations generally below 200 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white flowers striped with green, nodding delicately with faint or absent scent. Growing with stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it emerges from a large bulb with 2 to 7 scales. Its leaves are variable, ranging from 2 to 20 in number, linear to ovate, and measuring 3.5 to 12 centimeters long. The flower features a narrow, linear nectary that is approximately purple to green, extending halfway to two-thirds the length of its delicate perianth parts.

Habitat: Heavy soil, open hills, fields near coast

Bloom period: Feb-Apr

Elevation: generally < 200 m

Bioregions: ScV (Solano Co.), CW.

California counties: Alameda, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, San Benito, Solano, Sonoma, San Francisco, Sacramento

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