Checker Lily

Fritillaria affinis

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.