Ambiguous Mariposa Lily Plant Care
Calochortus ambiguus (M.E.Jones) Ownbey
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Calochortus ambiguus, the Arizona mariposa lily or doubting mariposa lily, is a perennial plant in the lily family (liliaceae) that grows at higher elevations of the Sonoran Desert regions of Arizona, western New Mexico, southern Utah, and Sonora.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Water Ambiguous Mariposa Lily every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily (Calochortus ambiguus) belongs to the Liliaceae family within the Calochortus genus. Ambiguous Mariposa Lily is also known as Mariposa Lily.
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Ambiguous Mariposa Lily produces showy cup-shaped flowers in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Calochortus ambiguus requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily Need?
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily Prefer?
Calochortus ambiguus grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Ambiguous Mariposa Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Ambiguous Mariposa Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Feed Ambiguous Mariposa Lily every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily can be propagated through seeds, bulb offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to white globe lily plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Ambiguous Mariposa Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily?
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Ambiguous Mariposa Lily Need?
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Ambiguous Mariposa Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Calochortus genus — compare its care with other Calochortus species on PlantoScan.
Calochortus is part of the Liliaceae plant family — browse all Liliaceae genera and species.
Ambiguous Mariposa Lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Calochortus Species
Other Calochortus species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Calochortus ambiguus (M.E.Jones) Ownbey, family Liliaceae (first published in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 27: 505 (1940)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Ambiguous Mariposa Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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