Flower of Fritillaria liliacea
Fragrant fritillary is endemic to the San Francisco Bay region of California, preferring “open hilly grasslands at altitudes less than 200 meters (650 ft.) in elevation”. It is perhaps unsurprising that its preferred habitat conflicts with urban development pressures and agriculture; as such, it has been proposed as a candidate for listing as a federally-endangered species in the USA.
It is an exception to most other species in the genus in that it is sweetly-scented, hence the common name. Most species of Fritillaria have a fetid floral odour, and are pollinated by wasps or flies. Known pollinators for Fritillaria liliacea include the yellow-faced bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii) and long-horned bees (Eucera spp.). For more on pollination in Fritillaria (from the source of my information), see Pollinators via the marvelous Fritillaria Icones site (“a photographic botanical database to help with the identification, research and conservation of Fritillaria“). The site also happens to have one of the best pages on the discovery and history of Fritillaria liliacea.
Californian resources about Fritillaria liliacea include the Jepson eFlora (Fritillaria liliacea) and CalPhotos (Fritillaria liliacea).
If you’d like to see and read more about fritillaries, I’ve updated the dozen or so previous BPotD entries on species of Fritillaria. You can most easily find these by clicking on the Liliaceae tag.
Yes, a great genus and definitely deserving more attention in California and elsewhere. I’m hoping to see some of them in a planned trip to central CA in early April.
What a lovely picture ! Thank you, Daniel.
I love fritillaries, but all the ones we can grow here in Quebec fall prey to that pretty, ferocious Lily beetle, Crioceris. Is the fragrant fritillary also susceptible ?
I’m just a gardener, but everything I’ve read suggests that all members of the Liliaceae are susceptible to red lily beetle, including all Fritillaria. Perhaps the beetle has not yet reached California, but as you know there are plenty of them here in northeastern North America.
I’m presently designing the garden of a 90% sustainable home, included will be animals, and plants at risk of extinction. Thank you for featuring this stunning fritalleria…you have inspired me to use massing of them in several spots.
I don’t think there’s a Fritillaria I don’t like!
What’s not to like about this delicate, sweet smelling beauty! I would be happy to have this in my garden. Are they available in nurseries anywhere in the Northwest, I wonder?