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Checker Lily

Fritillaria affinis

geophyte View on Calscape

Care

Sun

part shade

Water

very low

Soil

well-drained; tolerates clay; summer dry

Size

1–3ft tall , 0–0ft wide

Bloom

Mar-May · brown, purple, green

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Edible

Bulblets and bulbs roasted; traditional Indigenous food use

Native Range

Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Southern California

Nodding bell-shaped flowers with checkered brown-purple-green pattern

Extraordinary checkered pattern; rice-like bulblets; unique woodland bulb

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your checker lily bulb (which looks like a small mass of rice grains) in fall in a spot with part shade and very well-drained soil - this is non-negotiable, as poor drainage is the main reason these plants fail. Space bulbs about 6 inches apart. The soil can tolerate clay as long as it drains fast; if your garden stays wet in summer, grow it in a container instead where you control the drainage completely. Checker lilies are native to the Bay Area, so your local conditions should suit them fine.

After Planting

Water your newly planted bulb through its first spring and early summer to establish it, then back off dramatically - once established, it needs water only once a month or less in summer. The key is creating or maintaining dry summer dormancy; after the flowers fade in late spring, stop watering and let the plant go dormant. The #1 mistake people make is watering too much during summer when the plant is naturally resting, which rots the bulb. Expect flowers in March through May of your first year, then the plant will disappear underground - this is normal and means it's thriving.

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