Calochortus gunnisonii

Gunnison's Mariposa is a species of purple or white flowering lily bulb in the Liliaceae family native to the western U.S.A. in the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills. This showy wildflower makes its home to dry meadows, sagebrush, and woodlands at fairly high elevations (3280-10,827 ft). "Calochortus", from the Greek "kalos", means "beautiful", and "chortos" means "grass", refers to its grass-like green leaves. "Mariposa" is Spanish for "butterfly" 

Prefers a sunny location in moist to dry loams and rocky soils. Soils need to be very well-drained to prevent bulb rot.

The showy flowers are white or purple with yellow hairs inside and often a purple band at the throat. The basal leaves tend to wither early, leaving the thin linear stem leaves. This plant is rare and hard to find and will most likely not do well in the hot humid climate of the southeast.

Use this plant in its native habitat in a rock garden, slope or mass planted. Attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   Generally pest-free. Bulb rot and powdery mildew can occur in too moist conditions. Voles and gophers can eat the bulbs.