Liliaceae: Lily Family — Various (other than Calochortus)

Red Clintonia – Clintonia andrewsiana

Blooms:

May–July

Plant Height:

25–50 cm

Flower Size:

Large cluster

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Shaded damp woods, especially redwood forest

Notes:

This is unmistakable, with its large (15–30 cm) broad elliptical basal leaves, and its tall stem topped with an umbel of many pale to bright pink, trumpet-shaped flowers.  Also, there are smaller clusters of flowers a little lower down the stem.

Checker Lily / Mission Bells – Fritillaria affinis

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

10–120 cm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Shaded woodland

Notes:

A very striking plant, each stem with 2–4 pendulous flowers, 1–4 cm long.  Sadly, it is very short-lived.  Petals are yellowish-green mottled purple, or brown-purple mottled yellow.  Yellow anthers surround the 3-cleft spreading style.  Lower leaves are whorled, the upper ones alternate.  Photo #3 by CJH.

Lily, Checker

Stink Bells – Fritillaria agrestis

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

10–60 cm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Rare or endangered?

Yes – 4.2

Habitat:

Clay (generally serpentine) banks & depressions

Notes:

A rather rude name for this unusual fritillary even if its aroma is not its most enticing feature.  Each stem has 2–4 pendulous flowers.  The petals are 18–35 mm with outcurved tips, pale green with brownish streaks on the outside.  Inside, it has brownish streaks and stripes.  Yellow anthers surround the 3-cleft spreading style.  There are 5–12 leaves, crowded below the mid-stem.

Chocolate Lily – Fritillaria biflora var. biflora

Blooms:

Mar–May

Plant Height:

10–45 cm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Heavy soil on grassy slopes and ridges

Notes:

A very distinctive fritillary, with the flower color amply justifying the plant’s common name.  The flowers are similar in shape to Stink Bells (Fritillaria agrestis, see above).  However, the color is very different, dark brown with greenish-purple stripes and greenish inside with purplish-brown stripes.  Generally found near the coast.

Leopard Lily – Lilium pardalinum subsp. pardalinum

Blooms:

June–July

Plant Height:

10–25 dm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Riparian

Notes:

This beautiful and unmistakable lily requires no comment except for the pedantic one that it is better called Leopard rather than Tiger Lily.  This is because pardalinum is the Greek and Latin word for female panther (= leopard), not for tiger.  In some parts of the world, these are known as Turk’s-cap Lilies, because of the shape formed by the upturned petals.

Fairy Bells – Prosartes hookeri

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

30–80 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Shaded woodland

Notes:

This is not uncommon, but it is inconspicuous.  Most easily recognized by its branching growth habit and its alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves with acute to acuminate tips.  The delicate cream to pale green, bell-shaped flowers are below the leaves, often hidden by them.  The fruits are bright red berries.  It may be necessary to lift the leaves to find the flowers or fruits.