Erythronium revolutum

MAHOGANY FAWN LILY

Erythronium revolutum
MAHOGANY FAWN LILY

Erythronium revolutum is perhaps the most elegant of all the refined and classy Fawn Lily family.
With up to 4 soft to rich pink blooms clustered atop each stem. Eeach nodding and with reflexed petals like a graceful pagoda.

Pink pagodas of bloom

The foliage rosette of the Mahogany Fawn Lily is also lovely.
Because the leaves are mottled, and sit in a decorative rosette almost flat to the ground.
With the flower stems rising cleanly above to 25cm.
So elegant flowers and decorative foliage are an enchanting sight together.
And even better when a mass of Erythroniums bloom as a carpet under under trees and shrubs.

Breathtaking in shade gardens

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

Low care over summer

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.

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 revolutum is a bulbous perennial, native to western coastal areas of North America.
Where it grows in the dappled and filtered light under the trees in conifer or deciduous woodlands. It enjoys humus rich soil and coastal conditions.

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 revolutum

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.

Then 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.

Once germination has occurred, then prick the seedlings out and grow on individual seedlings in small pots until they are big enough to be planted out into the open garden.
Where they will increase their colony rapidly by both bulb offsets and self seeding

Flowers are usually produced in 3 years from seed.

SEED COUNT: 5 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this beautiful plant are scarce).
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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