Bloomipedia
Bruneau mariposa lily (Calochortus bruneaunis)
Photo: rickr via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bruneau mariposa lily

Calochortus bruneaunis

Native to Nevada

Bruneau mariposa lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

6states
617NV sightings*
1,706U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nevada

Quick look

Calochortus bruneaunis is a species of flowering plant in the lily family, and is known by the common name Bruneau mariposa lily.

  • It belongs to the Liliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 617 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #62 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

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When does it bloom?

In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Nevada (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (276 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S2), UT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Calochortus nuttalli” (Calochortus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bruneau mariposa lily in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.

More Nevada flowers

Winding mariposa lily (Calochortus flexuosus)

Winding mariposa lily

Calochortus flexuosus

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: March–May
Garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)

Garden tulip

Tulipa gesneriana

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in Nevada gardens
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: March–June

Sources