Fritillaria pluriflora
Adobe-lily
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Fritillaria pluriflora (Adobe-lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by adobe soil habitat and undivided style diagnostic.
Adobe-lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern California Interior Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, and edges of the Sacramento Valley in adobe and serpentine soils of interior foothills at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pink-purple to lavender flowers with rounded to acute tips, nodding gracefully and measuring 2 to 3.5 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it emerges from a large bulb with impressive bulb scales. Its leaves are 3 to 10 in number, clustered near the ground, elliptic to obovate-oblong and measuring 6 to 15 centimeters long. Each flower features a distinctive lavender nectary extending about two-thirds the length of the perianth, creating an elegant and unusual appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; adobe soil habitat and undivided style diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Adobe, generally serpentine of interior foothills
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Butte, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Solano, Colusa, Yolo, Tehama, Mendocino, Santa Clara, Kern, Sacramento
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Fritillaria pluriflora blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 pluriflora native to California?
Yes. Fritillaria pluriflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fritillaria pluriflora bloom?
Fritillaria pluriflora blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Fritillaria pluriflora grow?
Fritillaria pluriflora occurs in Butte, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Solano, Colusa, Yolo, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Fritillaria pluriflora belong to?
Fritillaria pluriflora is in the Liliaceae family, genus Fritillaria.
Is Fritillaria pluriflora rare or endangered?
Fritillaria pluriflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2S3.
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.