Calochortus superbus--The Superb Mariposa Lily

 

Left: A fully open Yellow Variety of the Superb Mariposa. Right: A nice group of flowers, buds, and a partially obscured seed-pod.

California's Superb Mariposa Lily is a resident of the inland counties of the Sierra foothills. Quite a variable species, the yellow variety we grow here at 7th Street Farms hails from Butte County outside of Oroville. When provided with the necessary nutrients it can grow quite tall (2 ft.), and produce large flowers (3 in.) and particularly massive seed-pods (see below).