Checker Lily

Fritillaria affinis

checkered yellow and brown/purple flowers nod downwards from gracefully curving stems.

Plant Description

Checker lily is a stunning spring-blooming perennial native to grasslands, open forests, and coastal bluffs of western North America. It grows from a bulb and produces one to several nodding, bell-shaped flowers with mottled greenish-brown to purple checkered petals. The plant’s narrow leaves are arranged in whorls or spirals along the stem, which can reach 1–3 feet tall. Ecologically, checker lily provides early-season nectar for native pollinators and contributes to the diversity of prairie and woodland wildflower communities. Its bulbs are revered as an important traditional food source for native peoples.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Forb
Habitats	Balds Conifer forests Forest edges Forest openings Gardens Grasslands Little Habitats Meadows Oak woodlands Prairies Residential yards Riparian areas Trailsides Upland prairies Wet prairies Woodlands
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Moist Nutrient rich soil Well drained
Special Uses	Attracts pollinators and or other beneficial insects Blooms April Blooms May Deciduous Deer resistant Flowering Flowers blue/purple Flowers yellow Good for shady woodland garden Herbaceous Ornamental Perennial Produces bulbs Produces nectar Produces pollen Produces seeds
Shade Preference	Full shade Full sun Part shade
Mature Height	1-3'