Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Fritillaria pudica (Yellow Fritillary) is a small, charming plant of sagebrush country in the western U.S. It is a member of the Lily family, or Liliaceae. Another (somewhat ambiguous) name is "yellowbells", since it has a bell-shaped yellow flower. It may be found in dryish, loose soil; it is amongst the first plants to flower after the snow melts, but the flower does not last very long; as the petals age, they turn a brick-red colour and begin to curl outward. This lily produces a small bulb, which can be dug up and eaten fresh or cooked; it served Native Americans as a good source of food in times past, and is still eaten occasionally. The plant is called [skni] in Sahaptin.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Geophyte

Size

1 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast

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Color

Yellow, Red

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil description

Adaptable, tolerant of sand, loam and clay.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 15

Site type

Slopes

Plant communities

Sagebrush Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest