Erythronium purpurascens

S.Watson

Avelanche lily, Purple Fawn-lily

Liliaceae Edible: Root, Bulb Potential hazards — see below 677 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Erythronium purpurascens is a species of flowering plant in the lily family which is known by the common names purple fawn lily and Sierra Nevada fawn lily. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the high mountains of the southern Cascade Range, Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada from Siskiyou County south to Mendocino and Placer Counties.

Description

A hardy, frost-tolerant bulb reaching 30cm tall. Flowering occurs from April to May with seed ripening June to July. The plant is hermaphroditic. It grows in well-drained light sandy or medium loamy soil with mildly acidic to basic pH. Semi-shaded light woodland environments are suitable, with consistently moist soil preferred.

Edible Uses

No specific food use has been documented for this species, but most if not all members of the genus produce edible bulbs. The slender bulb grows up to 4cm long.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, the following notes have been seen for another member of this genus and so some caution is advised. Skin contact with the bulbs has been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these contain plenty of humus. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil. Succeeds in almost any light soil, preferring one that is rich in humus. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c. Bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer; germination should occur in autumn or winter. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and should be sown as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow thinly to avoid the need to prick out seedlings in their first year, and give occasional liquid feeds to prevent nutrient deficiency. When plants go dormant, pot up the small bulbs 2–3 per pot and grow them on in a shady greenhouse for another 2–3 years before planting out into permanent positions while dormant in late summer. Bulbs can also be divided in summer as the leaves die down. Larger bulbs can go straight into permanent positions, while smaller ones are better potted and grown on in a shady greenhouse for a year before planting out when dormant in late summer.