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Kelli,
When I was in Alaska last summer, I looked at hundreds of wildflowers. I had never seen a chocolate lily before, but they were only in bud, and even then, during the 2 weeks I was there, I didn't get to see their bloom...I was very very happy to see your article. I did get some photos, this one is not great, but wanted to show you. Their blooming season there is after summer solstice. But isn't it a great little flower?
Thanks for the very nice article.
Sharon
That must be the Fritillaria camschatcensis. The flower looks pretty much the same as mine but the leaves are different. Thanks for sharing. I've never been in Fritillaria camschatcensis country.
I planted Chocolate Lilies I got from a nurseryman here who specializes in digging up wild flora. I planted them in some pretty awful wet soil surrounded by 2" rock. They promptly "died". To my surprise, next spring back they came and did quite well, although briefly. Now that I understand them better, I think I will dig them up and give them a less dangerous (they are on a corner where the garden hose drags over) spot to grow and spread.
I too planted a chocolate lily here in Anchorage. The first summer I completely neglected it -- it was in a 4" container with very little dirt and if I remembered I dumped water on it when I noticed it shriveled. But I put it in my flower bed in the fall anyway. It's multiplied (from 1 to 6 stalks) and bloomed (from 2 to 6 blossoms per stalk) each spring for about 4 years now. Many of the chocolate lilies in the wild near Anchorage are streaked with green. In the wild they tend to favor wet areas. And of course their odor is rather unpleasant.
Interesting. Never noticed the fragrance, or 'negative' thereof. LOL. I have scattered the seeds, as the seedpods are huge so I hope the entire corner is loaded with plants next spring.
