Triteleia dudleyi
Subalpine California-endemic bulbous geophyte with a corm, 2–3 basal leaves, and an erect 30–35 cm stem bearing an umbel of many yellow six-lobed funnel-shaped flowers that dry purple, with pale yellow perianth 18–24 mm long, a cylindrical to narrowly funnel-shaped tube 8–12 mm, spreading lanceolate lobes 8–12 mm, lavender 1 mm anthers, and pedicels 1.5–4 cm.
Common Names
Dudley's Triteleia, Dudley's Triplet Lily, Dudley's Brodiaea
Summary
Dudley’s triteleia is a perennial herb in the Asparagaceae family native to California, occurring in subalpine mountain forests and dry slopes. It grows from a corm and produces two to three basal leaves up to 30 cm long, an erect stem 30–35 cm tall, and an umbel-like cluster of many yellow funnel-shaped flowers that dry purple; each flower has six lobes up to 1.2 cm and six stamens with lavender anthers, with a tube 8–12 mm long.
In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and can be grown in a coastal Northern California garden despite high-elevation origins; nursery availability is limited, which makes it rarely offered in nurseries. Blooms occur in summer, adding a distinctive yellow display.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-14 inches
Spread
4-12 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun, tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Black soils
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Summer
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Hoover
- Publication
- Amer. Midl. Naturalist 25: 86 (1941)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Triteleia