#brodiaeoideae

Triteleia laxa

This native California bulb is not uncommon in our part of California. providing a wonderful splash of blue in the spring. It has the common name of "Ithuriel's spear", and it looks great alongside the California poppies in the Ruth Bancroft Garden, as seen above. Triteleia and the related genus Brodiaea have been placed in different families over the years, moving from the Amaryllis Family to the Themidaceae and now to the Asparagaceae (in the subfamily Brodiaeoideae).

Brodiaea californica

Like their close relatives in the genus Triteleia, the bulbs in Brodiaea are widespread in California, making splendid displays in blues and purples in late spring. With their foliage withering even as they bloom, they will remain dormant until the autumn rains bring forth a new crop of leaves.

Triteleia laxa

Triteleia is a genus of bulbs closely related to Brodiaea, and both of these are common in California. Their family placement has been shifted, since they used to be put in the family Themidaceae, but now they are considered to be a part of the Asparagus Family, in the subfamily Brodiaeoideae (note the 5 vowels in a row!). As is typical of bulbs in California, Triteleia laxa goes dormant during the hot dry summers.

Brodiaea californica

Brodiaea is a genus of bulbs, with many of them native to California. They were once placed in the Lily Family, but  after much taxonomic re-shuffling they are now included in the subfamily Brodiaeoideae within the Asparagus Family. Brodiaea californica is the largest of the species, and its elegant flowers feature a contrast between the yellow-and-white central column and the lavender blue of the outside. The species occurs widely in the northern part of California’s Central Valley, as well as in the Coast Ranges to the north of San Francisco.

Triteleia laxa

This bulb is native to northern California, occurring along the Coast Ranges and farther inland around the Central Valley. Its funnel-shaped blue flowers are not large, but they are very elegant with their dark stripes running down the middle of each petal. The genus Triteleia is close to Brodiaea, and both are currently placed in the family Asparagaceae.

Brodiaea californica

There are many wonderful groups of bulbs native to California, and one of these is the genus Brodiaea. The classification of these plants has bounced around quite a bit, from the Lily Family to the Allium Family to the Asparagus Family, but now they have landed in a new family called the Themidaceae. Most of them have flowers in the white - pink - purple - blue range. Brodiaea californica grows to the north of the San Francisco Bay, and also in the northern end of the Sacramento Valley.

Triteleia ixioides

This attractive little bulb is native to California and southwestern Oregon. It belongs to the family Themidaceae, or alternatively to the subfamily Brodiaeoideae within the Asparagus Family. The genus Triteleia is closely related to Brodiaea, but most of these have flowers in the purple-blue range rather than yellow.