prairie wildflower
Sagebrush Mariposa Lily
Calochortus macrocarpus
Also known as Sagebrush Mariposa-lily, Bigpod Mariposa
1 of 2Native to California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
Northeastern California and northern Nevada, north to British Columbia and southwestern Montana
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jul–Aug Flowering time
- Height up to 20 in to 51 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for partial shade and lean, dry soil. At up to 20 in, it suits meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
also Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, Bombus fervidus, Red-belted Bumble Bee +29 more
Hunt's Bumble Bee, Two-form Bumble Bee, Vancouver Bumble Bee, Tripartite Sweat Bee, Agapostemon texanus, California Bumble Bee, Great Basin Bumble Bee, Confusing Furrow Bee, Nearctic Bumble Bee, Wide-striped Sweat Bee, Prunus Miner Bee, Tansy Mustard Sweat Bee, Common Longhorn Bee, Bumblebee-like Digger Bee, Ceratina acantha, hoary sweat bee, Tiny Small carpenter, Nevada Miner Bee, Nevada Sweat Bee, Distinguished Sweat Bee, white-winged sweat bee, Knerer's Sweat Bee, Dashwood's Sweat Bee, Green-bellied Sweat Bee, Ceratina pacifica, Dimple-bellied Sweat Bee, Perdita calochorti, Dufourea calochorti, Perdita wyomingensis - Butterflies California Hairstreak also Northern Blue
- Beetles Bee-mimic Beetle
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and WashingtonUnited States (6): CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Northeastern California and northern Nevada, north to British Columbia and southwestern MontanaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9 · Canadian 1–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Dry, usually volcanic, soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 5.7–7.0The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 20 in (to 51 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 8+ in (20+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jul–AugWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Required (cold, moist)Whether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bulb, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- LowHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- SlowWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.