Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Liliaceae
Botanical Name
Erythronium
Plant Common Name
Erythronium
General Description
Elegant woodland perennials from the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, erythroniums are grown for their exquisite flowers and for their often strikingly marked leaves. Appearing in spring, the yellow, pink, white, or violet flowers nod from wiry, erect, leafless stems that may be green, purple or brown. Usually one bloom is borne per stem. Resembling small lilies, the flowers have six backswept segments that give them the appearance of taking flight. A starburst of yellow or purple anthers often protrudes from the gaping blooms. Each flowering plant produces a pair of broadly lance-shaped basal leaves, which are typically flecked or shadowed with silver, bronze or maroon. The leaves go dormant soon after the flowers wither. Plants grow from small, tooth-shaped bulbs, which sometimes spread via underground stolons.
These beautiful plants grow and flower best in partial shade and well-drained, humus-rich soil. They fare poorly in wet or arid soil. They will often self-sow where happy. Use them in shaded rock gardens, borders, or naturalistic plantings.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
5"-18" / 12.7cm - 45.7cm
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Width
3"-5" / 7.6cm - 12.7cm
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Western United States, Canada, Europe, Central Asia, Eastern Asia, Western Asia, Japan
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Burgundy, Bronze, Silver
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Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
