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Splendid Mariposa Lily

Calochortus splendens

geophyte View on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun, part shade

Water

very low

Soil

Fast, Medium, Slow; Found in sandy or clay soils near the coast, or gravelly soils inland.

Size

2–2ft tall , 0–0ft wide

Bloom

Mar-May

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Edible

Bulbs eaten raw or roasted; traditional Indigenous food

Native Range

Grasslands and oak woodlands of the Kern County foothills and southern San Joaquin Valley, 1000-3000 ft elevation.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your Splendid Mariposa Lily bulb in full sun in fall or early winter - the larger the bulb you buy, the better your chances of blooms. Choose a spot with fast-draining soil; this lily thrives in sandy, clay, or gravelly soils and won't tolerate wet feet. Space bulbs about 6 inches apart and plant them where they can dry out completely during the dry season, mimicking their native coastal and inland foothills habitat.

After Planting

Water moderately during the first spring growing season to help the bulb establish, then stop irrigating once the plant is mature - these lilies need zero summer water. Don't expect flowers every year; the plant expends considerable energy blooming and may skip a season or more to rebuild its bulb reserves. Expect a thin-stemmed plant with few leaves that will go dormant and disappear after flowering, which typically occurs March through May. The #1 mistake is overwatering or planting in poorly draining soil; treat this like a bulb that wants to dry out, not a traditional garden lily.

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