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Fritillaria affinis - (Schult.&Schult.f.)Sealy.

Common Name Chocolate Lily, Checker lily
Family Liliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Prairies and grass bluffs to woodland and coniferous forests, usually on leafy soils overlying a rather stony sub-soil, from sea level to 1500 metres[60].
Range Western N. America - British Columbia to California, east to Idaho.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fritillaria affinis Chocolate Lily, Checker lily


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund
Fritillaria affinis Chocolate Lily, Checker lily
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Fritillaria affinis is a BULB growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

F. esculenta. F. lanceolata. Pursh.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root  Seedpod
Edible Uses:

Bulb - raw, cooked or dried for winter use[2, 161]. Rich in starch, the bulb is best used in the autumn[172]. The plant has a small bulb surrounded by rice-like bulblets[256]. Both bulb and bulblets are used, when cooked they are tender and delicate, resembling real rice except for having a slightly bitter taste[256]. The roots were a staple food for some native North American Indian tribes[257]. Immature seedpods - raw or cooked. A bitter flavour[172].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A woodland plant, preferring light soils[1]. It is best grown in a well-drained sandy woodland soil[42, 90, 134]. Plants are best grown in a bulb frame and kept rather dry in summer[90]. Water should be withheld in summer or hot spells[164]. A very ornamental and polymorphic plant[1]. The sub-species F. affinis tristulis is a triploid form that is exceptionally large flowered, robust and easily cultivated[90]. Plants flower within 3 - 5 years from seed[164].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[1]. Protect from frost[134]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible and can take a year or more to germinate[134]. Sow the seed quite thinly to avoid the need to prick out the seedlings. Once they have germinated, give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure that they do not suffer mineral deficiency. Once they die down at the end of their second growing season, divide up the small bulbs, planting 2 - 3 to an 8cm deep pot. Grow them on for at least another year in light shade in the greenhouse before planting them out whilst dormant. Division of offsets in August[1]. The larger bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out in the autumn. Bulb scales[163].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Fritillaria atropurpureaPurple Fritillary, Spotted fritillaryBulb0.6 4-8  LMSNDM21 
Fritillaria camschatcensisKamchatka Lily, Kamchatka fritillaryBulb0.5 4-8  LMSNM40 
Fritillaria cirrhosaChuan Bei MuBulb0.5 4-8  LMSNM23 
Fritillaria imperialisCrown Imperial, Imperial fritillary, Crown Imperial FritillaryBulb1.0 7-9 SMHSNDM21 
Fritillaria meleagrisSnakehead Fritillary, Chequered lily, Checkered FritillaryBulb0.3 3-7 MLMHSNM01 
Fritillaria pallidifloraPale-Flowered FritillaryBulb0.6 3-7  LMSNM03 
Fritillaria pudicaYellow FritillaryBulb0.2 3-7  LMSNDM30 
Fritillaria roylei Bulb0.6 4-8  LMSNM02 
Fritillaria sewerzowii Bulb0.3 4-8  LMSNDM01 
Fritillaria thunbergiiZhe Bei MuBulb0.6 7-10  LMSNM23 
Fritillaria verticillata Bulb0.6 4-8  LMSNDM23 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Schult.&Schult.f.)Sealy.

Botanical References

60200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Daniel Terry   Wed Jun 21 2006

I have an organic chocolate business up here in British Columbia. Two years ago I purchased a piece of land to build a new factory on. I liked it because it has a wonderful view and lots of big trees, but the amazing thing about it is it has lots of chocolate lilies. It was just too serendipitous to pass up.

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