Brodiaea elegans

Common Names

Elegant Brodiaea, Harvest Brodiaea, Elegant Cluster-Lily, Elegant Clusterlily, Cluster-Lily

Summary

Elegant Cluster-lily is a bulbous perennial native to the mountain ranges of California and Oregon. It forms a basal rosette of narrow leaves that wither by bloom and carries tall, leafless stems bearing dense umbels of six-petaled purple to violet flowers with a funnel-shaped tube and white sterile stamens amid fertile stamens.

Culture and uses: full sun to partial shade; prefers well-drained soils and tolerates clay; water sparingly, allowing soil to dry between waterings, and drought-tolerant once established; after flowering it goes dormant and should dry down; propagation by seed or by dividing offset corms; hardiness zones 5–9; ideal for beds, borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, and meadows, with flowers attractive to bees and butterflies and potential for naturalizing in suitable conditions.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-20 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil, pH around 6.5.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate; 2-3 years to reach full size.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts adult beetles and native flies