Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Calochortus superbus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name superb mariposa lily. It is endemic to California, where it is a common member of the flora in several types of habitat statewide. It is a perennial herb growing up to 40 to 60 centimeters tall with a basal leaf up to 30 centimeters long which withers by flowering. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of 1 to 3 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three sepals and three petals all up to 4 centimeters long and blotched with yellow at the bases. There is generally a darker spot within the yellow area, and the base color of the segments may be white to light purple or solid yellow. The fruit is an angled capsule 5 or 6 centimeters long. This plant resembles Calochortus luteus, a chief discriminant being the oval to crescent shaped nectary of C. luteus compared to the squarish nectary of C. superbus.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White, Yellow, Purple

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

7*, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Site type

Open grassy places, dry meadows,

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana