Erythronium are small hardy perennials that reach between 15 and 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) in height.
They bear small lily-like flowers of white, pink, or yellow. these bloom in the early spring.
Their small size makes some species ideal for use in rock gardens.
Some common names for Erythronium include Chamise Lily, Dogs tooth lily, Adam and Eve, Adder's tongue, Fawn Lily, and Trout Lily.
Erythronium grandiflorum by Matt Lavin.
Erythronium by Wallygrom.
Common Names: Fawn Lily, Trout Lily, Adder’s Tongue, Adam and Eve, Avalanche Lily, Chamise Lily, Dog’s Tooth Violet,.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm).
Native: Northern America, Europe, Asia.
Family: Liliaceae.
Erythronium can be grown from either seeds or corms. If growing from corms then they should be burried about 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) deep in the autumn.
Chamise Lilies and other Erythronium like to grow in a shady (partial shady location is fine too) part of the garden. This should have a rich moist forest type soil.
When growing Chamise Lily (and other Erythronium) from seeds, some preparation is required. First the seeds should be sown at a depth of about 3 mm (1/8th inch) in flats (in the spring).
These should then be wrapped in a black bag, then placed in the refrigerator for three weeks. The flats should then be sank into a shady area and covered with glass.
Once Chamise Lily seedlings emerge (germination can take anything from one month to one and a half years), they should be transplanted at a spacing of about 7 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) apart.
Once established, it is important to keep the soil nice and moist. Following flowering, the plant dies back completely, and should be covered in top soil at the end of summer.
To maintain fresh plants, they should be divided every four years. This is also a good way of propagating new Chamise Lily plants.
I hope that you found this guide on how to grow Erythronium plants in your garden. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Lily, Calochortus plant, and Canna plants.