Calochortus barbatus aka Calochortus Barbatus

Calochortus barbatus is a bulbous plant in the lily family, Liliaceae. It comes from Mexico, where it grows across many states. Its range includes Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Puebla. Kew places it in a subtropical climate. Wild plants grow in grassland and open oak and pine woods. These sites lie below about 8,200 feet [2,500 metres]. The species is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Their spread is around 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. The bulb rests underground during dormancy. Flowers appear from April to June, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between flowers. The supplied species records give no further flower or leaf details. The RHS lists Calochortus flavus as a synonym.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains freely. It needs deep, fertile, sandy soil for cultivation. Plants For A Future also lists light loam as suitable. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Soil can be dry or moist during growth. Winter conditions must stay dry. The source lists USDA zones 3–7 and describes strong cold tolerance. Yet winter wet makes it hard to grow in Britain. Cold tolerance alone does not make an outdoor site suitable.

A bulb frame offers better control over winter wet. A sheltered spot beside a south-facing wall is another option. Keep nearby plants from crowding the bulbs. One reported method leaves a cold frame uncovered from March through October. Plants have set seed there without help. Lift bulbs after the leaves die back in summer, if needed. Store them somewhere cool and dry through winter. This plant suits sites where growers can control moisture with care.

Sow ripe seed promptly, or sow in early spring. Use a cold frame and a mix that drains very well. Germination may take one to six months at 59°F [15°C]. Leave seedlings in place for their first two growing years. Their first dormancy can prove hard to manage. Too little moisture can dry them out; too much can cause rot. The bulb is edible raw or cooked, but its food rating is low. Plants For A Future records no known hazards or medicinal uses. It also records no other uses or weed concern.