Triteleia hendersonii

Common Names

Henderson's Triteleia, Yellow Tiger-Lily, Henderson's Stars

Summary

Henderson's triteleia is a perennial bulb-forming herb native to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California, growing in dry foothill woodlands, chaparral, openings in mixed evergreen forest, and rocky slopes. It has basal leaves 15–40 cm long and 3–12 mm wide, a scapose inflorescence 10–35 cm tall, and an umbel of 6–15 flowers. Flowers are yellow or white, often tinged or fading blue, with a funnel-shaped tube and widely spreading lobes, and a conspicuous dark purple midvein; plants reach about 20–70 cm in height and bloom May–July.

In cultivation, it prefers sun to part shade and well-drained soil, is very drought tolerant, and requires no summer irrigation once established within its native range. Propagation from seed may take several years; germination requires 60–90 days of cold-moist stratification, and sowing outside in fall to late winter with natural stratification outdoors or artificial stratification in milder winters is recommended; as a native with drought tolerance, it is suitable for dry landscape plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained rocky or serpentine soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Bloom Color

Yellow, mainly; sometimes white.

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division