Erythronium oregonum (Oregon Fawn Lily)

Prized for its captivating blossoms and beautiful mottled foliage, Erythronium oregonum (Oregon Fawn Lily) is a charming bulbous perennial boasting up to 3 nodding, lily-shaped, creamy-white flowers, 3 in. across (7 cm), one per stem, in early to late spring. Each blossom features elegantly reflexed petals and bright yellow anthers. They rise atop a naked scape, well above the basal foliage of semi-erect leaves, strongly marbled with irregular brown markings, similar to those on a fawn. Naturally occurring in moist to dry woodlands and grasslands at fairly low elevations in southwestern British Columbia and Washington and Oregon, as well as parts of northern California, Oregon Fawn Lily is a spring ephemeral whose foliage disappears by early summer as the plant goes dormant. Highly ornamental, easy to grow and trouble-free, Oregon Fawn Lily makes an attractive groundcover in the shade garden. Lovely in groups under deciduous trees or shrubs.

• Grows up to 10-14 in. tall (25-30 cm) and 5 in. wide (12 cm).
• Easily grown in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils in part shade.
• Stunning in shade gardens, rock gardens, underplanting shrubs or roses, cottage gardens, woodland gardens. Because it goes dormant after blooming, interplant with late emerging perennials to fill in the open space (bleeding heart, columbine and hostas).
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs.
• Propagate by seed or by division after flowering. Plants propagated from seed will not bloom until their fourth or fifth year.
• To be planted 4 in. deep (10 cm).
• Native to western North America, where it grows in the Pacific Coast Ranges from southwestern British Columbia to northern California.