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CALOCHORTUS (kal-oh-kohr’-tus) – A genus of West American plants of the Lily Family growing from corms and bearing bell-shaped, lilac, white, or yellow flowers. Known as Mariposa-, Butterfly-, Globe-, and Star-tulips, Mariposa- and Sego-lilies, and Fairy Lantern, the numerous species are of great beauty, showing many exquisite tints and markings, and varying greatly in flower form.

The plants are hardy in the North East States but must be protected against alternate freezing and thawing in winter. They need an open sunny position in a light soil, made so, if necessary, with sand or sifted coal ashes. If not planted in the rock garden in a spot where good drainage is assured, it is wise to raise the level of the bed where they are to be grown a few inches above the surrounding surface. Plant in the fall just before freezing weather or just after the first light freeze so as to prevent an autumn growth of foliage which would be killed during the winter. After they have flowered in the spring, the corms should be dug and stored in a dry place until the following autumn as is often done with tulip bulbs. Calochortuses may be grown in pots, the same care being given as to soil and drainage, but they do not force readily.

Principal Species

These are divided into 3 sections. The first comprises the Globe-tulips, which have a single grassy leaf from the base, and rounded, nodding flowers on a graceful leafy stem. The most beautiful and interesting are C. albus (Fairy Lantern) to 2 ft. with hanging satiny white blossoms, fringed with hairs, one of the most charming of the species ; Calochortus amabilis (Golden Globe-tulip) to 1-1/2 ft. with golden yellow flowers and a stout 2-branched stem ; and Calochortus amoenus (Purple Globe-tulip) to 1 1/2 ft. with purplish-rose flowers which, unlike those of the other two, ripen as they mature.

The second section is made up of the Star-tulips, which are similar to the Globe-tulips, but smaller and more slender. Among them are : Calochortus monophyllus (Yellow Star-tulip) to 10 in. with dainty, bright yellow cups, often marked with brown or black at the base, opening wide when in full bloom; Calochortus unitiorus (often listed as C. lilacinus) to 10 in. with handsome fragrant lilac flowers also opening wide ; and Calochortus maweanus and its var. major, with white flowers fringed with delicate lavender hairs. Still others provide variations from purple to rose.

The third section includes the many species of true Mariposa-, Meadow-, or Butterfly-tulips, all lovely in coloring and growth. Those named below have been successfully grown in East gardens ; other species are hardy but require special care to protect them from too much moisture. Calochortus venustus var. citrinus to 10 in. is a hardy plant with yellow flowers with a dark eye ; the var. listed as oculatus has white or cream blossoms to 4 in., tinted with purple and rich dark markings at the base of each petal. Calochortus nitidus to 1 1/2 ft. has wide-flaring lavender or purple flowers, marked with a deep lilac eye. Calochortus clavatus to 3 ft. has large golden-yellow flowers and stout stem. Calochortus eurycarpus to 1A ft. is a hardy species having an umbel of white, lavender-tinged flowers, marked dark bluish-purple. Calochortus nuttalli, the Sego-lily, with white flowers lined and spotted in the center with purple, is the State flower of Utah.