Calochortus clavatus

S. Watson

Liliaceae Edible: Root, Bulb 2,378 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Calochortus clavatus is a species of mariposa lily known by the common name clubhair mariposa lily. It is endemic to California where it is found in forests and on chaparral slopes.

Description

Bulb reaching 1 m tall at medium growth rate, hardy to UK zone 3. Flowers April to June. Hermaphrodite, pollinated by insects. Prefers light sandy and medium loamy, well-drained soils with mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and tolerates dry to moist soil.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Bulb - raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

Requires a deep very well-drained fertile sandy soil in a hot sunny position and must be kept dry over winter. The bulb requires reasonable moisture from early winter until summer but must then be kept dry. This is a rather difficult plant to cultivate in Britain, it is a very cold hardy plant but is intolerant of wetness especially in the winter. It is easiest to grow in a bulb frame but is worth trying outdoors at the base of a south-facing wall, especially with shrubs that like these conditions. It should not be crowded by other plants. Bulbs have succeeded in a cold frame with the cover removed from March to October. Bulbs can be lifted as soon as the foliage dies down in the summer and stored overwinter in a cool dry place, replanting in spring. Bulbs frequently divide after flowering, the bulblets taking 2 years to reach flowering size. Hand pollination is necessary if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as ripe or early spring in a cold frame in a very sharply draining medium. Stratification may be helpful. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 15°c. Leave the seedlings undisturbed for their first two years growth, but give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. It is quite difficult to get the seedlings through their first period of dormancy since it is all too easy either to dry them out completely or keep them too moist when they will rot. After their second year of growth, pot up the dormant bulbs in late summer and grow them on for at least another 2 years in the greenhouse before trying them outside. Seedlings take about 5 - 7 years to come into flower. Division of the bulbs as soon as the foliage dies down. The bulbs can be planted straight out into their permanent positions but in areas with wet winters it might be best to store them overwinter and replant them in the spring. Stem bulbils, harvested from the stems after flowering. They can be stored cool and dry then planted in pots in the cold frame in the spring.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 60-100 Calochortus species. There are 7-9 species in tropical America. They have also been put in the family Calochortaceae.

References (3)

Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 163
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14:265. 1879