Fritillaria Species, Chocolate Lily, Kamchatka Fritillary, Northern Rice-Root, Skunk Lily

In Alaska, we call the Fritillaria camschatcensis the "Chocolate Lily", due to the brownish color of the bloom, I would suppose. They are...Read More often fondly referred to as sh*t lilies due to the flower's aroma that rivals fresh manure.

They are present in many of our Southcentral Alaskan gardens, brought in from the wild, and tend to multiply quite rapidly, sprouting new leaves from the pips around the plant. In the wrong place, they could be considered invasive.

Another name for the Chocolate Lily is "Indian Rice". Since prehistoric times the bulbs have been a staple in the native diet. Though slightly bitter, the bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked. They tend to be less bitter after the leaves of the plant turn yellow in the fall.