Globe lily
Calochortus uniflorus
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A bulb plant. It grows 10-20 cm high and 5-10 cm wide. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and green. The flowers are erect and mauve. They are on the end of long stems. The flowers are 5 cm across and have a purple spot at the centre of the petals. Sometimes the flowers are nodding. The flowers can be pink, purple, red, white or yellow.
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 plant. It can stand light frosts. It grows in heavy damp soils. It can grow in full sun or light shade. The soils should be well drained.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Mexico, North America (country/location of origin), USA
How it is used for food
The bulbs are eaten raw or roasted.
Edible parts
Root, bulb
How it is grown
Bulbs are planted 30-45 cm apart. They are planted 8-12 cm deep. They can also be grown by offsets or seed.
Its other names
Local names
Globe tulip, Monterey mariposa lily