Bloomipedia
Winding mariposa lily (Calochortus flexuosus)
Photo: Craig Martin via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Winding mariposa lily

Calochortus flexuosus

Native to Nevada

Winding 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 March–May.

6states
740NV sightings*
2,229U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Nevada

Quick look

Calochortus flexuosus is a species of lily known by the common names winding Mariposa lily and straggling Mariposa lily.

  • It belongs to the Liliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine 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 March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 740 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #50 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

Winding mariposa lily gift ideas

Handmade winding mariposa lily gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily art print

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily greeting card

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily mug

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily earrings

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily embroidery pattern

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Winding mariposa lily sticker

    Gift pick coming soon

When does it bloom?

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

Flowering records by month in Nevada (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (327 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
G4 Apparently 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: CO (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 winding mariposa lily in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye.

More Nevada flowers

Bruneau mariposa lily (Calochortus bruneaunis)

Bruneau mariposa lily

Calochortus bruneaunis

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: May–July
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