Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Fritillaria atropurpurea is a species of fritillary known by several common names, including spotted fritillary, purple fritillary, spotted mountainbells, and spotted missionbells. This wildflower is native to the western United States, where it is often found beneath trees in moldy leaf litter. This species has the widest distribution of the fritillaries, growing from California to the Dakotas. The stems may reach anywhere from 10 to 60 centimeters in height and bear narrow, pointed leaves at nodes along the stem. The nodding flower has splayed-open petals each one or two centimeters long which are yellowish or cream-colored with heavy dark purple-brown mottling. The center of the flower has a central style surrounded by stamens with very large yellow anthers. This species is similar to Fritillaria pinetorum, but it has nodding flowers compared with the latter's erect blooms.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

4 - 24 in Tall

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Color

Brown, Red, White, Yellow, Cream, Purple

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Low, Moderate, High

Soil drainage

Medium

Soil description

Prefers moist, rich soil with organic matter.

Site type

Mold under trees

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest