Butterfly mariposa lily, Star tulip
Calochortus venustus
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A bulb plant. It grows 20-60 cm high and 8-10 cm wide. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. The flowers are cup-shaped. There can be 3 per stem. The flowers are erect on stems 60 cm long. They vary from white to yellow to red. There is a dark red blotch at the centre of the inner petals ringed with yellow. The flowers are 2.5-5 cm long.
There are about 60-100 Calochortus species. There are 7-9 species in tropical America. They have also been put in the family Calochortaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate of Mediterranean climate plant. It can stand light frosts. Plants can grow in full sun or light shade. The soils should be well drained.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
The bulbs are cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Root, bulb
How it is grown
Plants are grown by division of the bulbs. Bulbs are planted 8-12 cm deep and are spaced 30-45 cm apart.