Erythronium

( ehr - ith - ROH - nee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials grow from bulbs or corms and need light shade and regular waterings during growth and bloom periods. Commonly known as Fawn Lily, Trout Lily, Dog's-Tooth Violet or Adder's Tongue, they flower in spring, producing dainty blooms on usually no more than 1 foot tall stems. They really make a statement when grown in mass under deciduous trees and in rock gardens, where their flowers are on display from the middle of spring to the beginning of summertime. Although individual plants are small, these flowers have the tendency to form large colonies that eventually blanket the landscape; they make a great groundcover for wooded, undisturbed areas of the garden.

Erythronium Species and Varietals

The genus Erythronium is a member of the plant family Lilliaceae and includes between 20 and 30 species. The best growing zones for Erythronium vary by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Erythronium albidum (White Fawnlily, White Trout Lily, Yellow Snowdrop)
These plants form extensive colonies in woodland areas that are undisturbed; they do not do well in compacted soil conditions. Flowers are white, closing at night and reopening the next morning.

Erythronium americanum (Yellow Trout Lily, Yellow Adder's-Tongue, Yellow Dogtooth Violet)
This species is native to North America's woodland areas and has grey-green leaves mottled with brown to maroon markings. Flowers are yellow and bloom in springtime. 
Fun Fact: Erythronium plants are sometimes called Trout Lilies because the patterning on their leaves resembles the skin markings in some species of trout,

Erythronium californicum (California Fawn Lily)
These plants are native to Northern California and grow best in zones 4-7 and 14-17. Leaves are green with brown markings, and flowers are creamy white with a yellow center ring. Blooming stems are 6-10 inches tall. A popular variety is 'White Beauty', which has white flowers with rusty orange marks at the petal bases, and is a vigorous grower that spreads by offsets.

Erythronium caucasicum
This species is native to the central Caucasus and the Alboraz Mountains in northern Iran. Foliage has markings and produces white to yellow (or a combination of the two) flowers with yellow anthers. 

Erythronium citrinum (Citrus Fawn Lily, Cream Fawn Lily)
Endemic to the Klamath Mountains in Oregon and California, this species of Fawn Lily grows on shrubby slopes and open woodland areas. Flowering occurs in early springtime, and blooms are cream-white with yellow centers. Leaves are green, mottled with brown to maroon markings.

Erythronium dens-canis (Dog-Tooth Violet)
This plant grows best in zones 1-7 and 15-17 and is native to central and southern areas of Europe. Leaves are variegated with brown. Deep pink to purple flowers are held on 6-12 inch stems, and varieties are offered with blooms in white, pink, rose, or violet, some marked with darker colors.

Erythronium elegans (Coast Range Fawnlily, Eleant Fawnlily)
Endemic to Oregon's coastal mountain range, this plant produces foliage with brown or whitish mottling and pink-tinged white flowers. Blooming is most profuse between the months of May and June. These flowers do not grow well in cultivation.

Erythronium grandiflorum (Yellow Avalanche Lily, Glacier Lily. Dogtooth Fawn Lily, Maxa)
Each plant in this species produces two green leaves with wavy edges and between one and three showy yellow flowers. There are a few subspecies with flower colors that range from yellow to cream-colored/white. 

Erythronium helenae (Pacific Fawn Lily, St. Helena Fawn Lily)
This species is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area's northern coastal mountains and produces green leaves mottled with brown/maroon to white markings. Flowers are white with yellow towards the center, and develop pink to purple hues as they age. 

Erythronium hendersonii
This species grows best in zones 4-7 and 15-17 and is native to Northern California and southern Oregon. Stems are 12 inches tall and hold lavender flowers that are a dark maroon color at the base and edged with yellow or white. Petals curl back at the tips. Leaves are dark green with brown markings.

Erythronium japonicum (Asian Fawn Lily, Oriental Fawn Lily, Japanese Fawn Lily, Trout Lily)
This species of Trout Lily is native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East and northeastern China. These flowers bloom in April through June in their native range, and produce pink flowers with deep red to maroon markings towards their centers.

Erythronium mesochoreum (Paririe Fawn Lily, Midland Fawnlily)
This species is native to Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Flowers are white with a bluish-purple tint. Scapes bear singular flowers. These are popular additions to wildflower gardens in their native range, and have shown some promise when grown in relatively dry soils.

Erythronium multiscapideum (Sierra Fawn Lily)
This species of Fawn Lily is endemic to northern and central California, namely Shasta County through Amador and Mariposa counties. Leaves are green, typically mottled with maroon-brown to white markings. Flowers are white and petals have bright yellow bases. 

Erythronium oregonum (Giant White Fawn Lily, Oregon Fawn-Lily)
This species is native to the Pacific Coast Ranges from British Colombia down through northern California. These wildflowers produce white flowers with yellow centers, sometimes with dull reddish streaking towards petal bases. Thin flowering stalks can reach up to 16 inches tall.

Erythronium pluriflorum (Manyflower Fawn Lily, Golden Fawn-Lily, Shuteye Peak Fawn Lily)
These wildflowers can reach up to a foot tall when in bloom, and produce flower stalks that bear between one and ten flowers each. Flowers are bright yellow and have curled tepals. This rare species is endemic to California's eastern Madera County. 

Erythronium propullans (Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily, Minnesota Adder's Tongue, Minnesota Fawn Lily)
This critically-imperiled species is native to Minnesota's northern watersheds, and produces white flowers that have a pink tint to them. These plants prefer to grow in woodland settings, and was first discovered by schoolteacher Mary Hodges in Faribault, Minnesota.

Erythronium purpurascens (Purple Fawn Lily, Sierra Nevada Fawn Lily)
This species is endemic to California, where it grows in high mountainous areas from Siskiyou County down through Mendocino County. Flowering stalks hold between 1 and 6 flowers that have white petals which fade to yellow towards the center of the bloom. As flowers age, they take on pink and purple hues, lasting until the last snow melt of the year has passed.

Erythronium pusaterii (Kaweah Lakes Fawnlily, Hocket Lakes Fawn Lily)
Endemic to Tulare County in California, this species is named for professor Samuel J. Pusateri (College of the Sequoias), the collector of the original specimen. Flowers are white with yellow centers, and stems reach about 16 inches tall when in bloom.

Erythronium quinaultense (Quinault Fawn Lily)
This rare species of Fawn Lily is native to the area around Lake Quinault in Washington. Leaves are green and glossy, sometimes with somewhat wavy edges, and flowers are white with yellow and pink bands perpendicular to the veining.

Erythronium revolutum (Mahogany Fawn Lily, Coast Fawn Lily, Pink Fawn Lily)
These grow in zones 1-7 and 14-17 and are native to the West. Flower stems grow up to 16 inches tall and hold pink flowers marked with yellow. Variety 'Pink Beauty' has unmarked pink flowers. This species is native to western North America, from northern California up through British Colombia.

Erythronium taylorii (Pilot Ridge Fawn Lily, Taylor's Fawnlily, Yosemite Fawn Lily)
Endemic to Tuolumne County in Northern California, this species of Fawn Lily produces white flowers with bright yellow petal bases. This is a critically imperiled species, and they prefer to grow on shaded, north-facing slopes. 

​Erythronium tuolumnense (Tuolumne Fawn Lily, Tuolumne's Dog's Tooth Violet)
These rare, endangered California natives are robust growers, and do best in zones 2-7 and 14-17. Leaves are solid green and flowers are golden yellow with greenish bases held on 12-15 inch tall stems. Variety 'Rondo' is an especially vigorous grower, and 'Pagoda' is another choice garden cultivar.

Caring for Erythronium 

Bulbs should be planted in rich, porous soil in fall. Do not let the bulbs dry out before planting them. They should be spaced 2-3 inches deep and 4-5 inches apart. Species that are native to the West do not need supplemental water while in their dormant stages, but species such as Erythronium dens-canis should receive moisture year-round. Divide clumps only when vigor and bloom quality are suffering. 

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Erythronium
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 309, Erythronium
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