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PLANT of the MONTH   ~~   MAY 2008
 updated on or about the 1st of each month

MARIPOSA LILIES

  • Common Name(s): Mariposa, Mariposa Lily, Butterfly Tulip, Mariposa Tulip
  • Scientific Name: Calochortus species
  • Family: Liliaceae, Lily family
  • Plant Type: Perennial plants sprouting a bulb
  • Size: 1-3 feet high
  • Common Habitat: grasslands, slopes, chaparral

Mariposa means "butterfly" in Spanish, and the flowers of this plant do bear some resemblance to the winged insect. They are are a few inches in diameter and quite showy, having 3 wedge-shaped petals and sepals, forming a goblet- or bowl-shape. Calochortus means beautiful grass, referring to the long, grasslike leaves, which are not very noticeable and wither somewhat when the plant is blooming. These are perennials which sprout from a bulb, a food source for native people who roasted them in ovens.

The following chart gives some distinguishing characteristics of the Mariposas which are native to our mountains. Catalina, Plummer's and Yellow Mariposas are pictured on this page. Mousing-over the photos will identify which kind it is.

Common name Species Flowers Bloom Time Other characteristics
Catalina Mariposa Lily Calochortus catalinae white tinged with pink or blue, not usually with hairs March-May 1 to 2 feet high, fire-follower, one flower per stem, found in grassland and coastal sage scrub
Butterfly Mariposa Lily Calochortus venustus white with a pink spot on each petal, scattered hairs near the base of the petals April-July 1 to 3 feet high, not common, found in grasslands or shaded forested areas
Plummer's Mariposa Lily, Pink Mariposa Lily Calochortus plummerae pale yellow interior to pink edges, speckled appearance, usually fringed with hair near the base May-July 1 to 2 feet high, found in openings in chaparral and on dry, rocky slopes
Yellow Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus bright yellow, usually fringed with hair near the base April-June 1 to 3 feet high, fire-follower, up to 5 flowers on a zig-zagging stem, found on dry slopes
Splended Mariposa Lily, Lilac Mariposal Lily Calochortus splendens deep lilac, with a few hairs at the base May-June 1 to 2 feet high, usually several flowers per stem, found on dry slopes

Contributed by Liz Baumann

Curious what was featured in past Plants of the Month? Search the Archives.

REFERENCES:
Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains, by Milt McAuley
Flowering Plants: The Santa Monica Mountains, Coastal and Chaparral Regions of Southern California, by Nancy Dale
Roadside Plants of Southern California, by Thomas J. Belzer
California Native Plants for the Garden, by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien
California Herbal Remedies, by LoLo Westrich