Triteleia ixioides

Common Names

Pretty Face, Golden Brodiaea, Yellow Brodiaea, Cook's Triteleia

Summary

Prettyface, also known as Golden brodiaea, is a monocot native to southwestern North America, ranging from Oregon to California and found in forest edges and open sandy sites. It grows as a corm-based perennial with 1–2 grass-like leaves 10–50 cm long and a flowering scape 10–80 cm tall, bearing a showy umbel of pale-yellow flowers with mid-veins, and it forms clumps via offsets from the corm.

In cultivation, it thrives in a sunny position or bulb frame on rich, well-drained sandy loam, with moisture during growth and a warm dry period in late summer to autumn; drought-tolerant but tolerates some irrigation. It is hardy to USDA zones 6–9 and is grown as an ornamental plant, with propagation by seed or by division of flowering-size bulbs, and corm offsets maintain clumps.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4 inches-2.5 feet

Spread

4–20 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soils, including sandy loam and gravelly varieties.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Mildly acidic, neutral or mildly alkaline soils.

Bloom Color

Yellow to straw-colored; sometimes white flushed with purple.

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees