Calochortus gunnisonii

Common Names

Gunnison's Mariposa Lily, Mariposa Lily, Rocky Mountain Mariposa

Summary

Gunnison’s mariposa lily is a showy bulb-forming perennial native to high-elevation grassy meadows, open coniferous woods, and sagebrush foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Intermountain West, growing from underground bulbs to about 0.3 m tall with basal leaves that wither at flowering and an erect, unbranched flowering stem bearing 1–3 campanulate blooms; flowers are white to purple, often with yellow hairs inside and a purple throat band, with a dense patch of hairs at the petal bases, and a sun-loving plant that favors very well-drained sandy or loamy soils, hardy to USDA zones 4–8 and shade-intolerant.

In cultivation, provide deep, well-drained soil and full sun, with dry summers and minimal moisture during dormancy; avoid prolonged wet conditions to prevent bulb rot; bulbs can be propagated by division and may divide after flowering; seed production may require hand pollination in cultivation; store bulbs overwinter; common landscape uses include rock gardens, native meadow plantings, and naturalistic borders; watch for pests such as voles and gophers.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

8-21.5 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Deep, very well-drained fertile sandy soil.

Soil Drainage

Very well-drained soil

Soil pH

pH 6–8, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline, broad tolerance across acid, neutral, and alkaline soils

Bloom Color

White to purple

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division of bulbs, Stem bulbils

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators