Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Calochortus pulchellus is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Mt. Diablo fairy-lantern. It is endemic to California, where it is mainly restricted to Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County. There are historical occurrences in surrounding counties. It grows in chaparral and woodland of the bayside slopes. This is a perennial herb growing a branching stem up to about 30 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is up to 40 centimeters long and does not wither at flowering; there are 2 or 3 smaller leaves farther up the stem. The flower cluster is a solitary flower or a cluster of several flowers, which are nodding and usually spherical with all their petal tips touching. The three sepals and three petals are 2 or 3 centimeters long and pale to deep yellow. The petals are thinly hairy inside and often fringed with yellow hairs. The fruit is a winged capsule 2 or 3 centimeters in length. To learn more, visit the Jepson Herbarium's YouTube channel and watch a short video about this species:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI1ujbSm8BI

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

Wooded slopes

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland

Bees
Butterflies

Pollinators supported

0 confirmed and 68 likely

  • Likely

  • Confirmed

Adela septentrionella

Angelic Sweat Bee

Agapostemon angelicus

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon texanus

Cherry Leaf Miner Bee

Andrena cerasifolii