About
Erythronium montanum, the avalanche lily, is a robust, multi-flowered bulbous perennial from the subalpine and alpine meadows of Washington and Oregon, producing paired, plain-green leaves and several large, nodding, pure-white flowers with reflexed petals and yellow centres in spring. One of the finest of the white-flowered North American erythroniums.
About the genus
Erythronium, the trout lilies or dog's-tooth violets, are bulbous woodland perennials with paired, often mottled, lance-shaped leaves and solitary or few-flowered racemes of nodding, reflexed-petal flowers in white, yellow, pink or mauve in spring. Excellent plants for moist, humus-rich, woodland conditions.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Native toUSA (California)
ToxicityOrnamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling 6830,erythronium-oregonum,Erythronium oregonum,Oregon fawn lily,Erythronium multiscapideum
Care notes
CultivationPlant bulbs in autumn, at least 10cm deep, in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil that does not dry out, in light dappled or partial shade, for example in a woodland garden, and mulch each year with leafmould; keep bulbs slightly damp during storage and before planting. See bulb cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division of established clumps after flowering; re-plant immediately to make sure the bulbs do not dry out
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and rust diseases but generally disease-free