Practical
Plants

Calochortus nuttallii

Sego Lily

a member of the Calochortus genus in the family Calochortaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Height
0.15 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Bulb - raw or cooked[6]. Remove the outer husk. Excellent raw, the flavour is greatly improved by slow cooking[4]. The bulbs are said to have a crisp nut-like texture and a pleasant flavour when cooked. The bulbs can also be dried and ground into a powder[6] which can be used with cereal flours when making bread[7]. Leaves - cooked as a potherb[4]. It is hard to obtain a sufficient quantity and this use of the leaves will weaken the plants so is not to be recommended[K]. Seed - ground into a powder[4]. Flowers and flower buds - raw. A tasty addition to the salad bowl[4].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to New Mexico.
Habitat
Dry soils with grass and scrub, 1500 - 2800 metres[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow as soon as ripe or early spring in a cold frame in a very sharply draining medium. Stratification may be helpful. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 15°c[3]. Leave the seedlings undisturbed for their first two years growth[3], but give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. It is quite difficult to get the seedlings through their first period of dormancy since it is all too easy either to dry them out completely or keep them too moist when they will rot[8]. After their second year of growth, pot up the dormant bulbs in late summer and grow them on for at least another 2 years in the greenhouse before trying them outside. Seedlings take about 5 - 7 years to come into flower[8]. Division of the bulbs as soon as the foliage dies down. One report says that the bulbs must be planted into their permanent positions immediately[1], whilst another says that they can be stored overwinter and replanted in the spring[3]. Stem bulbils, harvested from the stems after flowering[5]. They can be stored cool and dry then planted in pots in the cold frame in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep very well-drained fertile sandy soil in a warm sunny position and must be kept dry from mid summer to late autumn[1][12][5]. This is a rather difficult plant to cultivate in Britain, it is very cold hardy but is intolerant of wetness especially in the winter[9][12]. It is easiest to grow in a bulb frame[12] but is worth trying outdoors at the base of a south-facing wall, especially with shrubs that like these conditions[2]. Bulbs can be lifted as soon as the foliage dies down in the summer and stored overwinter in a cool dry place, replanting in spring[3]. Another report says that the bulbs should be replanted immediately[1]. Bulbs frequently divide after flowering, the bulblets taking 2 years to reach flowering size[5]. Hand pollination is necessary if seed is required[1]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is the state flower of Utah[11][13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society 1980-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  8. Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  10. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

  11. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

  12. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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