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Bulbs

Erythronium multiscapideum

Sierra fawn lily

A bulbous herbaceous perennial 15-35cm high with elliptic leaves, 3.5-10cm long, which are dark green lightly mottled with brown and which die down in summer, a flower stem which branches at or just below ground level, and red-flushed buds that open into creamy-white flowers, 4-6cm across, with white anthers and yellow or yellowish green centres, in spring

Synonyms

Erythronium purdyi
Erythronium hartwegii

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Erythronium are bulbous perennials with paired, ovate or broadly elliptic leaves, and leafless stems bearing one or more nodding, star-shaped flowers with recurved petals
Name status: Correct
Plant range: USA (California)

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant bulbs in autumn, at least 10cm deep, in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that does not dry out, in light dappled or partial shade, for example in a woodland garden, and mulch each year with leafmould; keep bulbs slightly damp during storage and before planting. See bulb cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division of established clumps after flowering; re-plant immediately to make sure the bulbs do not dry out

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and rust diseases but generally disease-free

Get involved

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