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Native Plant Database

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Fritillaria recurva (Scarlet fritillary)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Fritillaria recurva Benth.

Scarlet fritillary, Scarlet missionbells

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

USDA Symbol: FRRE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The narrow, glaucous leaves are borne well up the stalk and are topped by several bright scarlet, nodding, bell-like flowers, the petals often recurved and checked with yellow inside. A smooth, gray-green plant with most leaves near the middle of the stem and, hanging in an open raceme at top, 1-9 scarlet, narrowly bell-shaped flowers. Robust specimens reach 3 ft. in height.

One of the few red lilies in the West and the only red fritillary. Recurva refers to the recurved tips of the petal-like segments. However, in the inner parts of the northern Coast Ranges of California there occurs a brilliant red-flowered form whose petal-like segment tips are not recurved.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

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

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , NV , OR
Native Distribution: S. OR to the inner Coast Ranges of Lake Co., CA, the Sierras of Nevada Co., CA & w. NV
Native Habitat: Rocky, brush covered slopes
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: 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.

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

Metadata

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

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