Checker Lily or
(Fritillaria affinis (lanceolata) var. affinis)
There are 21 species and 3 subspecies of the genus Fritillaria
in the
It is the coloring of the flowers and its nodding form that gives rise to its two common names: Checker Lily and Mission Bells. Traditionally the roots were cooked and eaten, or dried for future use by the Okanagan, Shuswap, and Thompson.[2]
Range
Climate, elevation
Located on moderately moist to dry sites. Climatic zones can
vary from less than 18 inches of annual precipitation up to 60 inches in wetter
climatic zones.[4]
Chocolate lily can grow at elevations near sea level to above 5,000 feet.2
Local occurrence
Chocolate lily is a very wide-ranging species. Although is
can grow in woodland environments, it is more often found in open grasslands in
northern and southern portions of the Puget Lowland and the adjacent Georgia
Depression of B.C.4
Habitat preferences
Open prairies, grassy bluffs and open woodlands
(particularly oak woodlands)2
Plant strategy
All species are perennial, but most are herbaceous (not having a woody stem) and die back, after flowering or fruiting.2 Bulbs are likely stimulated by moderate amounts of soil disturbance.
Associated species
Roemer’s fescue (Festuca
idahoensis var. roemeri),
danthonia (Danthonia
californica), common camas (Camassia
quamash), white fawn lily (Erythronium
oregonum) and shooting star (Dodecatheon
spp.)4
Collect as seed
Collection restrictions
Collect no more that 2% of the stand. Do not collect in consecutive years or when there has been a poor crop season. The easiest way to find seed is to mark where you found plants with flowers, while they’re in bloom so that you can find the seed pods later in the season. Pods are usually brown and dry and difficult to find in grassland. Seedpods ripen facing down, making seed collection timing difficult. [5] Collect individual seeds in paper envelopes, making sure corners of envelope are sealed with tape. This will prevent small seeds from falling out of corner holes.
Seed cleaning and germination requirements
Separate the seeds from pods. Fine chaff can be removed by winnowing. While shaking the seeds in a bowl, blow over them.5 Seeds require cold stratification for three months before sowing.[6]
Seed life
Lily seeds can last up to 7 years, if stored correctly.5
Recommended seed storage
conditions
Let seeds dry out where there is good air circulation. If storing for long periods of time store seeds in cold storage at or below 10% moisture.
Propagation recommendations
Sow seeds in the fall during moist warm conditions. Prepare clean flats using soil mix described below. Add enough moisture to wet the soil mix but do not saturate it. Spread seeds evenly, covering seeds with 1/8” of soil mix. Put flats in the same environmental conditions that they will grow in, similar to where you harvested the seed.5 Not all seeds germinate the first year. Seed flats may show no seedlings for up to six months. On emerging, the seedlings rapidly send their bulblets down to the bottom of the pot. Hold young plants until the dormant period (fall) of the second year before planting.6 Be sure to move flats or pots to shade or cover with shade cloth in the summer.
Soil or medium requirements
Mix 1:1 peat and vermiculite (5 gallon buckets) to about 8.5 oz of Osmocote for propagation.5 Chocolate lily requires good drainage so add sharp sand or gravel to the planting hole along with humus-rich soil.6
Installation form
Bulbs may be big enough to plant after two years (though
they will likely not be flowering size).5
Recommended planting density
Chocolate lilies may go dormant for a year or two after flowering and produce only a single basal leaf. To ensure some bulbs flower every year, plant them in multiples.
Care requirements after installation
Water every two weeks, from March until hot weather occurs.
Most bulbs dislike high soil temperatures and moisture at the same time. Soil
eventually dries out and bulbs go dormant sometime around August.5
Normal rate of growth or spread
Bulbs grow very slow and you may not see a bloom for several years (2-3 years) after planting.
Data compiled by Amy Lambert,