Wild hyacinth
Triteleia grandiflora

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. It is a clumping herb that keeps growing from year to year. The corms are round and straw coloured. It grows 30-60 cm high and spreads 20-30 cm wide. The leaves are fine, flattened and grass-like. The flower stems are wiry. The flowers are funnel shaped and blue, mauve or white. They are in heads. The flowers have widely flared lobes.

There are 15 Triteleia species. Also put in the family Alliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grasslands and deserts and also in Ponderosa pine woodlands. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The corms can be eaten raw but are better cooked. The boiled corms can be dried and stored. The young seed pods can be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Root, bulb, seeds pods, corms

How it is grown

The plants are marked while the leaves are still growing then the corms harvested later.

Its other names

Local names

Cluster lily, Douglas's triteleia, Fire-cracker flower, Fool's onion, Howell's triteleia, Large-flowered tritelia

Synonyms

Brodiaea bicolor Suksd.; Brodiaea douglasii S. Watson; Brodiaea douglasii var. howellii (S. Watson) M. Peck; Brodiaea howellii S. Watson; Hookera bicolor (Suksd.) Piper; Hookera douglasii Piper; Hookera howellii (S. Watson) Piper; Milla grandiflora (Lindl.) Baker; Triteleia bicolor (Suksd.) A. Heller; Triteleia howellii (S. Watson) Greene; Tulophos grandiflora (Lindl.) Raf.;