Calochortus apiculatus

Common Names

Baker Mariposa Lily, Pointedtip Mariposa Lily, Three Spot Mariposa Lily

Summary

Pointedtip mariposa lily, Baker’s mariposa lily, is a bulb-forming perennial herb in the Liliaceae native to western Canada and the northwestern United States, including Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. It grows from a bulb with erect flowering stems 10–30 cm tall that bear a terminal cluster of 1–5 flowers; flowers are pale yellow to yellowish-white with purple streaks and typically have a bearded inner surface, sometimes with a dark nectary spot at the base of curved petals. Habitat includes dry to mesic meadows, grassy slopes, and open forests in steppe and montane zones.

Germination and cultivation: it grows best in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade; drought-tolerant and minimal watering; hardy to zones 4–11; propagates by seed, with cold stratification required for a few weeks and germination typically occurring in 1–2 months; seeds are produced in pods after pollination and attract pollinators seeking nectar.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, dry to mesic.

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil

Bloom Color

Pale yellow to deep orange, pale yellow with purple streaks, white (petals white, drying yellowish), yellowish-white (sometimes with purplish pencilling)

Bloom Time

Spring

Growth Rate

Low

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts pollinators