Kamchatka Lily (Fritillaria camschatcensis, also known as Kamchatka Fritillary, Chocolate Lily, and Northern Riceroot) is an exquisite plant found sporadically from Hokkaido to Siberia and from Alaska south to Mexico. Kamchatka Lily has an interesting gap in its habitats, being found either on subalpine lakeshores and damp meadows, or at sea level in estuary tide flats, rocky shores, and brackish riparian areas. The lustrous, gothic flower’s color can range from deep rusty tones with golden inner mottling, to velvety purple bordering on black. 
 
Flowering typically occurs in late spring or early summer. Blooming can be temperamental but is more reliable with adequate moisture and filtered sunlight. Kamchatka Lily has a specialized relationship with both carrion flies and syrphid flies, which serve as the primary pollinators, and are attracted by a very faint odor of carrion emitted by the flowers. Although plants are not often browsed by deer or other herbivores, the large fleshy corms are a favorite of bears.
 
From the Ainu of Japan to the Coast Salish of the Pacific Northwest, the bulbs of Kamchatka Lily have served as an important traditional food source for cultures across its range. The bulbs were traditionally collected during specific times of the year, carefully dug up, processed, and consumed in various culinary preparations. The consumption of these bulbs played a significant cultural and dietary role and contributed to the sustainable management of plant populations. During harvest, often the mature corms would be collected while the small “daughter” corms (similar in appearance to rice, giving rise to the common name) would be removed and returned to the freshly broken soil. This had the cumulative effect of not just preserving populations, but rapidly multiplying the harvestable food supply.
 
Kamchatka Lily thrives in well-drained soils with moderate moisture levels, and is able to tolerate damper soils as it matures. It tolerates a variety of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and rocky soils, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions. Germination can be challenging and requires a period of cold stratification. Surface sow the seeds in a well-prepared seedbed or bulb trays in fall or early winter and lightly cover with sand or peat fines. Seedlings are small, singular, grass-like leaves that require 3-4 years to reach blooming maturity. With proper conditions and care, Kamchatka Lily will establish itself and form perennial clumps, continuing to bloom and grace the landscape for years to come.