[4] Natural habitat is quite wet, with 75 cm or more of rain per year, followed by a dry, hot summer.

[4] Common understory plant associates are Calochortus luteus, Clarkia unguiculata and Delphinium variegatum.

[citation needed] Calochortus amabilis is a bulbous perennial herb producing an upright, somewhat waxy branching stem to heights between 10 and 50 centimeters.

[2] The leaf at the base of the stem is flat, waxy, and narrow in shape, reaching up to 50 centimeters long and not withering away at flowering.

Calochortus is derived from Greek meaning 'beautiful grass', a reference to the characteristic grass-like foliage of the genus.