Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Calochortus invenustus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name plain mariposa lily. It is native to the mountain ranges of California, where it grows in the coniferous forests. Its range may extend just into Nevada. It is a perennial herb which produces a slender, mostly unbranched stem up to 50 centimeters tall. There is a basal leaf 10 to 20 centimeters long which withers at flowering. The flower cluster bears 1 to 6 erect bell-shaped flowers in a loose cluster. Each flower has three sepals and three petals which are usually white to light purple and may have spotting low at the base and greenish streaking on the outer surfaces. The fruit is an angled capsule up to 7 centimeters long.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Green, Lavender, Pink, Purple, White

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Site type

Dry granitic places

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana