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Native Plant Database

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Calochortus nuttallii (Sego lily)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Calochortus nuttallii Torr. & Gray

Sego lily, Mariposa lily, Sego-lily

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

USDA Symbol: CANU3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Growing 10-20 in. high, from an onion-like bulb, this perennial’s erect, slender stem is usually unbranched and bears 2-4 linear leaves, 7-10 in. long. One to three very showy, white to lavender-blue, tulip-like flowers are borne atop the stem in an umbel-like cluster. The flowers have three large petals with yellow bases and three narrower sepals.

Occasionally petals are magenta or tinged with lilac. This is Utahs state flower; the Ute Indians called it sago, and taught Mormon settlers to eat the bulbs in times of scarcity.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , ID , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , SD , UT , WY
Native Distribution: NM to the Dakotas, w. to ID & CA
Native Habitat: Dry, brushy or grassy slopes; desert high country
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: All Calochortus spp. are extremely difficult in cultivation. Flowering bulbs must be raised from seed for any success and bulbs must be kept completely dry from mid-summer to late fall. Bulbs will need protection from gophers and moles.

Propagation

Description: Plant seed in late autumn in pots, flats or outdoor seed beds. Corms reach maturity in 3-5 years.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1995 VOL. 12, NO.3 - Explore the Big Bend With the Wildflower Center, Education Director\'s Report, T...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Calochortus nuttallii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Calochortus nuttallii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Calochortus nuttallii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-10-02
Research By: TWC Staff

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