Calochortus flexuosus aka Winding Mariposa Lily

Calochortus flexuosus, the winding mariposa lily, belongs to the lily family. This bulbous perennial comes from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range includes southwestern Colorado, New Mexico, northern Baja California, and Sonora. It grows on dry plateaus, desert foothills, and open grasslands. It also lives among pinyon pines and junipers in high desert country.

Plants reach about 1 foot [0.3 m] in cultivation. Their spread is about 0.3 feet [0.1 m]. A broader reported height range is 0.5–1.5 feet [0.15–0.45 m]. A small bulb sends up fresh growth each spring. The slender stem bends and twists as it grows. This winding shape gives the plant its common name. Narrow, grass-like leaves grow mainly at the base. They often die back before the flowers open.

Each plant bears one to three open, cup-shaped flowers in spring. Their petals range from lavender to rose pink, with occasional white flowers. Dark marks lie near the centre of each bloom. Fine hairs form a ring near the petal bases. These hairs surround clear nectar glands. The narrower sepals often have a green tint. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. Solitary bees visit them for nectar and pollen. Good rainfall can bring strong flowering across scattered colonies.

Give this lily full sun and soil that drains well. Sandy or loamy soil suits it, even where nutrients are scarce. It prefers neutral to mildly alkaline soil. It accepts dry or moist conditions and can withstand drought. The listed USDA hardiness range is zones 5–8. Its growth rate is moderate. For seed propagation, sow in autumn in sandy, free-draining soil. Winter cold helps prepare the seed to sprout in spring. Rock gardens and native bulb beds suit its small size.

Rodents and deer sometimes eat the bulbs, though reported damage is limited. The plant has no reported weed tendency. Cooked bulbs have a mild, sweet taste. Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau used them as food. They boiled, roasted, or baked the bulbs in earth ovens. Raw bulbs can upset the digestive system. Leaves and seeds are also edible but offer little food value. Do not gather bulbs from protected populations. The supplied evidence records no medicinal uses.