CALOCHORTUS

A very diverse genus with many flower forms. “Mariposas”, the big tulip shaped species are most sought after but the broadly bell shaped “Fairy Lanterns” and “Cat’s Ears” have their own special charm. All require well-drained dryish conditions to do really well but I have found them no trouble here in Hobart. They provide a genuine extension to the spring bulb flowering season by producing their exquisite blooms in November and December.

albidus var. rubellus. A fairy lantern that bears pendant, translucent, ruby-pink open-mouthed bells on 30 cm stems in late spring. This particularly fine population from San Luis Obispo Co. has produced plants that were awarded a PC in the UK in 1995. FS/1st $5.00

clavatus ssp recurvifolius Several solid yellow bowls, lined in reddish-brown, on 25cm branched stems. Unlike its relatives this subspecies has coiling, recurved grey-backed leaves. FS/1st $4.00

luteus Large, upward facing golden bowls marked inside with brown on 40cm stems. A gorgeous mariposa tulip from California, which is very easy in a sunny well-drained spot. FS $3.00

luteus x superbus Seed raised plants from collections made in the Sacramento Valley where hybrid swarms of these two species are common. Expect some fine ivories, creams and soft yellows, all very variably marked inside. FS/1st $4.00

obispoensis Really unlike anything else in the genus. Many small starry flowers on stiff branching 30cm stems. The blooms are feathery and have purple-tipped, yellow segments. FS/1st $ 4.00

palmeri A very elegant mariposa to about 40cm tall with sugar-pink, widely cupped, upward-facing flowers, faintly brown-spotted inside. Beautiful, easy and very reliable. FS/1st $5.00

plummerae Plummer's Mariposa bears great rose-pink bowls, densely golden hairy inside on slender branched stems up to 40cm. Confined to the dry rocky slopes around Los Angeles and now considered rare. FS/1st $5.00

simulans My stock has white, broadly-cupped, mariposa flowers, flushed lilac and brushed with darker purple basal markings on tall stems. FS/1st $4.00

splendens Another magnificent Californian mariposa. Bears beautiful, soft-lavender, up-facing flowers with white wispy hairs and dark anthers on slender branding stems of 30-40cm. FS/1st $ 5.00

superbus Classic mariposa from Mariposa County. Usually glistening white flowers with purple brown blotches and basal markings on tall stems. A stunner! FS $4.00

umpquaensis A stunning species which, is a very local endemic from Douglas Co., Oregon. Close to C. howellii and not unlike it with its creamy-white flowers stained maroon-black at the centre. Crème de la crème! FS/1st $ 7.00

venustus An amazingly variable Californian species which bears large, magnificent, mariposa flowers that exceeds imagination. Our offerings range through shades of pink, purple, red and orange with complex blotches and basal markings in every combination of these. FS/1st $5.00

vestae Very large upward facing bowl-shaped flowers of white or lilac with deep red-maroon pencilled bases surrounded by a yellow zone. Known as the “Goddess Mariposa”. FS $4.00

weedii var. vestus Up to 4, erect, squarish bowls tinted opalescent grey stippled and blotched purple. Inside heavily speckled purple with a dense covering of yellow hairs. A beautiful addition to the late bulb season. FS/1st $4.00