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Fritillaria affinis var. affinis (Checker lily)
Miller, Holmes O.

Fritillaria affinis var. affinis (Schultes) Sealy

Checker lily, Chocolate lily, Mission bells, Rice-grain missionbells

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonyms: Fritillaria lanceolata

USDA Symbol: FRAFA2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Rice-grain missionbells or checker lily is one of the most variable of the Fritillaria genus. The leafy flowering stalk reaches up to 4 ft. and carries one to twelve, pendent, cup-like flowers at its apex. The flowers are checkered with brown and green, sometimes with purple and yellow inside. Some are more green, others (near the coast) are nearly black-purple.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: S. B.C., s., on both sides of the Cascades in WA & on the w. side in OR, to s. CA; also n. ID
Native Habitat: Prairies and grassy bluffs; woodlands; conifer forests
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: This species takes occasional summer water. In the garden, fritillaries are often finicky, the bulbs are eaten by gophers, and the foliage is devoured by snails and slugs. In addition, plants often take a year or two off from flowering, making only a single, broad, tongue-shaped basal leaf during those times. To assure good flowering, one needs a colony of several bulbs.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Other Showy Insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Many fritillaries have rice grain bulblets around the base from which new plantlets can be started. Propagation by seed is possible. Sow seeds in pots in the fall, plunge the pots in protected soil and hold the plants until the dormant periods of the se
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

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

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Oregon Native Plant Nursery - Woodburn, OR

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

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 Fritillaria affinis var. affinis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Fritillaria affinis var. affinis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fritillaria affinis var. affinis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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