Calochortus albus

Common Names

White Fairy Lantern, Fairy Lantern, White Globe Lily, Globe Lily, Indian Bells, Satin Bells, Pink Fairy Lantern

Summary

White Globe Lily is a California-native perennial herb in the Liliaceae. It forms a leafy, glaucous geophyte with a base bulb and stems reaching 20–80 cm tall; basal leaves are 30–70 cm long and persistent, while 2–6 cauline leaves accompany the flowering stalk. The pendulous flowers are 2–3 cm, white to pink, with a largely closed-tipped perianth that yields a globe-like, lantern-shaped bloom. Blooms occur in late winter to early summer, often in waves, followed by a dry dormancy until autumn rains.

In cultivation it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained rocky soils; drought-tolerant with a long summer dormancy and minimal irrigation. Propagation can be by seed or bulblet division: seeds germinate slowly and should be sown in late fall or early winter with cold stratification, pods dry on the plant; bulblets are divided after foliage dies back in late summer or early fall and replanted a few inches apart. It tolerates serpentine soils, is suitable for containers and landscape plantings, and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-2.5 feet

Spread

4-6 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

5.0-7.0

Bloom Color

White with pink to deep pink accents; occasional greenish.

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Glaucous

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies