# Crown Brodiaea (*brodiaea coronaria*)

The Crown Brodiaea is a beautiful flower that blooms in spring. It has vibrant purple petals that attract lots of friendly bees and butterflies!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Crown Brodiaea typically grows in grassy areas and open woodlands in California.
- **Also known as:** Brodiaea, California onion, Crown flower

![Crown Brodiaea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Brodiaea_coronaria_3113.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brodiaea_coronaria_3113.JPG)

## Appearance

The Crown Brodiaea has striking deep violet or purple, bell-shaped flowers arranged in a loose cluster atop a slender, leafless stem. Each individual flower uniquely features six petal-like parts forming a distinct crown-like appearance, making it easily distinguishable from other wild lilies.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Asparagaceae
- **Genus:** Brodiaea

## Interesting facts

- Its 'crown' name comes from the regal arrangement of its beautiful flower parts!
- Native Americans traditionally harvested and ate its starchy bulbs, often roasted!
- The Crown Brodiaea is a distant relative of asparagus, both being monocots!
- This wildflower thrives in California and Oregon, loving sunny, open meadows.

## Special abilities

- **Drought Defiance:** Crown Brodiaea can survive dry summers by storing water and energy in its underground bulb, helping it thrive in arid conditions.
- **Underground Energy Vault:** This plant has a corm (like a bulb) that acts as a hidden food storage, allowing it to rapidly sprout and bloom after winter rains.
- **Pollinator Magnet:** Its vibrant purple flowers and nectar are a powerful lure for native bees and other insects, ensuring its reproduction.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 10-20 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Black-tailed Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-bumble-bee) (*Bombus melanopygus*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — A generalist pollinator of its blooms
- **Pollinates:** [Common Drone Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly) (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Hoverflies also aid in pollination
- **Pollinates:** [Blue Orchard Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-orchard-bee) (*Osmia lignaria*) — A native bee that visits its flowers

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Crown Brodiaea?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Crown Brodiaea?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Crown Brodiaea spread?

10-20 cm

### How big are the flowers on Crown Brodiaea?

2-3 cm

### When does Crown Brodiaea bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Crown Brodiaea edible?

Yes

### Is Crown Brodiaea toxic?

None

### What is Crown Brodiaea's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [American Camp - San Juan Island National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-camp-san-juan-island-national-historical-park) — Washington, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Crown Brodiaea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crown-brodiaea)