Erythronium oregonum

OREGON FAWN LILY

Erythronium oregonum
OREGON FAWN LILY

Erythronium oregonum is a charming and entrancing beauty.
With creamy-white blooms looking like a flock pagodas.
With their elegantly reflexed petals and long dangling golden anthers.

Creamy pagodas of bloom

The lance-like foliage is also lovely. Because each leaf is mottled with pale spots, just like a baby deer. Hence the common name of Fawn Lily.

Clusters of 3 blooms per stem rise up in early spring.
So elegant flowers and decorative foliage are an enchanting sight together.
And even better when a mass of Erythroniums bloom under the under trees and shrubs.

Breathtaking in shade gardens

Fortunately, Erythronium oregonum will cheerfully multiply with offsets as well as self-seed, once they are established in a suitable happy place.
Making a breath taking sight in the shaded garden during early spring.

Then helpfully flowers and foliage disappear away cleanly at the end of spring.
As the Erythroniums go into their summer dormancy.
So you don’t need to worry about summer heat or water-stress, and they can be left to quietly multiply by themselves.

Low care & easy maintenance

Erythroniums do not need to be dug, lifted or divided.
And will co-habit happily interplanted with later spring blooming perennials such as Aquilegias. Which cover the spot the Erythroniums have left vacant.

Erythronium oregonum is a bulbous perennial.
And no prizes for guessing that it hails from Oregon in North America.
Where it grows in the dappled and filtered light under trees and shrubs, in conifer or deciduous woodlands. Sometimes in quite rocky situations, so it clearly appreciates drainage, as well as humus rich soil.

Easily pleased in the shade

Erythroniums love humus rich soil; old leaf litter; and dappled shade.
And they are not thirsty plants so do not take a lot of water.
Instead they just like a consistent moisture level and detest being water-logged or really dried out.
But are happy in a wide variety of soil types, from sandy to clay, and in a variety of soil pH, from acid to alkaline.
Plus Erythronium are not the slightest bit frost tender.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:
Erythronium oregonum

Best sown in a punnet in autumn or winter.
Because a period of chilling is required.

First soak the seeds in warm (not boiling) water and leave to stand overnight.

Then sow the seed in a punnet on good quality seed raising mix.
And barely just cover with sieved mix, sand, grit, or vermiculite.
Because light aids germination.
Thoroughly moisten the mix.

Give a winter chill

Now you can place the sown punnet outdoors in a shaded position (no direct sunlight) to receive the necessary 3 months winter chilling.
Or you can do the chilling by placing the plastic wrapped punnet in a fridge for 12 weeks.
If you are placing the sown punnet outdoors to let nature do the job – than you will need to wrap the punnet in fine wire mesh or net, to prevent birds and mice from scratching and eating.

After 12 weeks return the punnet to a well-lit, cool position.
And continue to keep moist.
Temperatures around 10C are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Then seeds sprout rapidly as the spring progresses.

Seed Count: 8 seeds per pack approx. (Seed of this beautiful plant is scarce).
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/