Mount Diablo fairy-lantern

Calochortus pulchellus is a perennial herb growing a branching stem up to about 30 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is up to 40 centimeters long and does not wither at flowering; there are 2 or 3 smaller leaves higher up the stem. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or a cluster of several flowers, which are nodding and usually spherical with all their petal tips touching. The three sepals and three petals are 2 or 3 centimeters long and pale to deep yellow. The petals are thinly hairy inside and often fringed with yellow hairs. The fruit is a winged capsule 2-3 centimeters in length.

formerly included Calochortus pulchellus var. amabilis, now called Calochortus amabilis Calochortus pulchellus var. maculosus, now called Calochortus amabilis Calochortus pulchellus var. parviflorus, now called Calochortus monophyllus