Fritillaria affinis

Checker lily is a highly variable fritillary. It grows from a bulb.

Contents

1 Botanical description 2 Distribution 3 Taxonomy 4 Cultivation 5 References

Botanical description

The stems are 10-120 cm. The flowers are nodding, 1-4 cm, yellowish or greenish brown with a lot of yellow mottling to purplish black with little mottling, or yellow-green mottled with purple.

It blooms in the spring.

Distribution

Oak or pine scrub. In California, Klamath Ranges, north coast ranges, Cascade Ranges, north Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area. Also to British Columbia and Idaho.

Taxonomy

There are two varieties:

• affinis
• tristulis

Cultivation

Prefers low to mid-elevation, shade or part shade, dry summer dormancy, good drainage. Some sources say that it may be difficult to cultivate, but other sources say that it is one of the easiest fritillaries to grow.

References

• Treatment from the Jepson Manual
• Harlow, Nora, Jakob, Kristin, and Raiche, Roger (2003) "Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses". University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-23849-4.
• CalFlora Taxon Report