Triteleia clementina

Common Names

San Clemente Island Triteleia

Summary

San Clemente Island triteleia is a rare, California-endemic perennial bulb-forming herb native to San Clemente Island, where it grows on damp clefts and rocky walls; from a corm, two to three keeled, lance-shaped leaves reach up to 100 cm, and an erect stem up to 90 cm tall supports an umbel-like cluster of many lavender or light blue funnel-shaped flowers, each up to 1.5 cm, with six purple stamens; blooming occurs March–April.

Full sun and well-draining soil suit it well, with a summer-dry regime after establishment and drought tolerance; propagation occurs by seeds (spring sow, 2–4 weeks germination) or bulb division (late summer); commonly grown as an ornamental that attracts pollinators; conservation status is California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2 and global rank G2, with approximately 20–28 known occurrences on the island, and past threats from feral herbivores have been removed.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial shade in hotter inland areas.

Soil Type

Well-draining sandy or loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging.

Soil pH

6.5-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Lavender or light blue

Bloom Time

Spring

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Layering, Ex situ tissue culture

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds