Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California.

Habitat: Prairies, meadows, open oak and coniferous forests, at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, hummingbirds

Herbaceous perennials from slender rhizomes, forming large clumps, the slender flowering stems up to 3.5 dm. tall with 1-4 leaves.

Leaves mostly basal, narrowly linear, up to 4 dm. long and 2-6 mm. broad; cauline leave few, reduced upward.

Flowers usually solitary, lavender or blue to purple, but occasionally white to yellow or pinkish, subtended by a pair of involucral leaves which may be 2 cm. apart; pedicels 1-4 cm. long; perianth parts fused in a tube at the base, the tube 6-10 mm. long; sepals 3, oblanceolate to obovate, 5.5-6.5 cm. long, spreading; petals 3, oblanceolate, 3.5-6 cm. long, erect; style branches 25-30 mm. long with 2 terminal lobes 8-12 mm. long; stigmas triangular; ovary inferior.

Capsule 3-celled, leathery, 25-35 mm. long.