Fritillaria affinis

Common Names

Checker Lily, Chocolate Lily, Rice-Grain Missionbells

Summary

Checker lily is a bulb-forming perennial in the Liliaceae with erect stems 10–120 cm tall, leaves in 1–4 whorls, and nodding flowers whose tepals range from brownish purple to pale yellowish green and are often mottled, with yellow nectaries dotted purple and a distinctly branched style; the bulb has large scales (2–5) and many small scales, and capsules are widely winged; it grows in oak or pine scrub and grasslands from sea level to about 1800 m, native to western North America from British Columbia through California to Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and is highly variable with many synonyms and can hybridize with F. recurva. In cultivation it tolerates sun to partial shade, preferring moist to well-drained soils with moderate summer watering and a dry summer dormancy; during dormancy keep cool and slightly moist; plant bulbs 4–6 inches deep and 4–12 inches apart in fall, and containers are possible; propagation from seed is possible but not easy, with most material grown from bulbs sold by specialty nurseries, and most plants take 3–5 years to flower; it is suitable for meadowscapes, rock gardens, woodland or oak forest understories, and coastal regions may receive full sun while inland sites prefer light shade; Sunset Zones 5–18.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-4 feet

Spread

4-6 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy or sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Brownish-purple to pale yellowish green, often mottled yellow or purple.

Bloom Time

Spring (March through June)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium growth rate, 3–5 years to reach mature flowering stage.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators