Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus gunnisonii) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,434 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Gunnison's Mariposa Lily: observations by month (U.S.)
About Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus gunnisonii (Gunnison's mariposa lily) is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family. It is native to the western United States, primarily in the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, northwestern Nebraska (Sioux County) and eastern Idaho (Fremont County).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 2,749 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Mexico | 249 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wyoming | 225 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Dakota | 104 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Montana | 68 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Utah | 36 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Yellow Trout Lily
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Bluebead Lily
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gunnison's Mariposa Lily?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to July.
Where is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming.