Fritillaria pinetorum
Pine fritillary, Pine Fritillary
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Fritillaria pinetorum (Pine fritillary) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by high elevation, spreading flowers, and glaucous leaves diagnostic.
Pine fritillary is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains (Mono and Inyo counties), Tehachapi, and Transverse Ranges on shaded granitic slopes at elevations of 1,800 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces mottled green-yellow and purple flowers with distinctive brown-dotted yellow nectaries. Growing with stems 1 to 4 decimeters tall that are bluish-green and somewhat glaucous, it emerges from a large bulb with multiple scales. Its leaves are linear and bluish-green, arranged 2 to 3 per node below the stem and alternating above, often growing longer than the flower cluster. The plant bears distinctive perianth parts 1.4 to 1.9 centimeters long, with widely ovate shapes and intricate color patterning.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; high elevation, spreading flowers, and glaucous leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- shaded granitic slopes
Elevation: 1800-3200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Ventura, Inyo, Mono, Plumas, Yuba, Santa Barbara, Lake, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Fritillaria pinetorum blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 pinetorum native to California?
Yes. Fritillaria pinetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fritillaria pinetorum bloom?
Fritillaria pinetorum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Fritillaria pinetorum grow?
Fritillaria pinetorum occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Ventura, Inyo, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1800-3200 m.
What plant family does Fritillaria pinetorum belong to?
Fritillaria pinetorum is in the Liliaceae family, genus Fritillaria.
Is Fritillaria pinetorum rare or endangered?
Fritillaria pinetorum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.