Harvest Brodiaea is a perennial plant native to southern California that blooms from April to June. It produces violet flowers on upright stalks above strap-like basal leaves. The leaves die back in summer, leaving seed pods. The plant spreads through underground corms and above-ground cormlets. Harvest Brodiaea thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, going dormant during summer if the soil dries. It is drought tolerant once established and requires no fertilizer. The plant attracts pollinators and is suitable for gardens, borders, beds, and naturalized areas.

1. Harvest Brodiaea – Brodiaea jolonensis/ Brodiaea terrestris ssp kernensis
(bro-DEE-uh hole-on-EN-sis (tay-REST-ris kern-EN-sis)
Family: Liliaceae (Lily family); perhaps better in Themidaceae (new family)
Native to: Southern coast of CA; in grasslands, open woods, on coastal prairies and clay flats. Often
found in clay soils.
Perennial from corm
mature height: 15-20 in. mature width: 12-15 in.
Basal, strap-like leaves grow in winter/spring. Leaves die back in summer, leaving showy seed pods.
Produces corms and cormlets in leaf axils. Cormlets will flower in several years.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms/fruits: Violet flowers born above leaves in umbels, Apr-June – long-blooming.
in raised beds; in water gardens and vernal swales/meadows; in large pots;
clustered in beds, bulb gardens or along walks. Nice cut flower.
Also in rock gardens, naturalized
areas. Excellent addition to Coastal Prairie/shrubland garden. Corms can be eaten.
Uses in the garden:
Sensible substitute for: none-native purple spring-blooming bulbs and Dwarf Agapanthus.
Attracts: many pollinators including butterflies, bees, bee-flies, flower beetles.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun best; partial shade ok
Any well-drained
Best with water only in winter/spring; can tolerate some summer water if soils are
well-drained (Zone 1 to 1-2); needs dry period in late summer/fall
None needed
Management: Easy to grow. Divide corms when dormant (late summer/early fall).
Propagation: from seed: allow pods to dry on plant; plant seed in fall (best) or spring. Best to sow
thinly in place. Guard against fungi. From corms: best sown in fall, in place (large) or in pots. Bury
only ½ inch deep.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 8, 18
11/24/10
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