{"id":7524,"date":"2022-02-20T16:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T15:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=26262"},"modified":"2022-02-25T14:04:29","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T13:04:29","slug":"erythroniums-how-to-care-for-plant-and-the-best-garden-erythroniums","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/erythroniums-how-to-care-for-plant-and-the-best-garden-erythroniums\/","title":{"rendered":"Erythroniums: how to care for, plant and the best garden erythroniums"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Katie Beale\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 20 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The flowers of\u00a0Erythronium<\/em> are unlikely to be mistaken for anything else. Although erythroniums are closely related to tulips, there\u2019s little obvious resemblance. Growing from small bulbs, the flowers are held on a thin, arching stem and hang downwards, with petals swept back at varying angles.<\/p>\n

There are around 28 species of these bulbous plants, often with attractive foliage and nodding flowers of spreading or reflexed petals. Colours range from white, cream and yellow to pink and purple. They are also known as dog\u2019s tooth violet, fawn lily and trout lily.<\/p>\n

A few species are from Europe and Asia, but the majority come from North America, where there are two distinct groups in the east and west of the continent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium-tuolumnense<\/span><\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium californicum \u2018White Beauty\u2019<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium americanum<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium \u2018Rosalind\u2019<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium hendersonii<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium \u2018 Janice\u2019<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium \u2018Knightshayes Pink\u2019<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium \u2018Minnehaha\u2019<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Erythronium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Erythronium-citrinum<\/span><\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When to plant\u00a0erythroniums<\/h4>\n

The bulbs should be planted at the end of summer. Plant as soon as you get them as they don\u2019t like to be dried out too much.<\/p>\n

Where to plant erythroniums<\/h4>\n

The best place to plant erythroniums is in a woodland garden or shady border under shrubs, plant the bulbs in light but humus-rich soil that does not dry out completely in summer.<\/p>\n

Erythroniums are hardy throughout almost all of the UK. Most have an RHS hardiness rating of H5. They are suitable for gardens in USDA hardiness zones 3a to 9b.<\/p>\n

Most erythroniums are straightforward to grow if planted in dappled shade and light but humus-rich soil. Some of the smaller species, such as E<\/em>. dens-canis<\/em>, which only grows to about 10cm, can be swamped by surrounding plants so be careful where you place the bulbs. The one thing they don\u2019t like is to be in dry, dusty soil in summer.<\/p>\n

How to plant erythroniums<\/h4>\n

Erythronium bulbs are long and thin and should be planted vertically, with the most pointed end up.<\/p>\n

Dig a hole deep enough that you can cover the top of the bulb with around 10cm of soil, or use a deep pot.<\/p>\n

Large clumps of strong-growing plants, such as E<\/em>. tuolumnense<\/em>, E<\/em>. \u2018Pagoda\u2019 or E<\/em>. californicum <\/em>\u2018White Beauty\u2019, can be lifted and carefully divided by pulling them apart. Replant them straight away. They will benefit from a mulch of well-rotted compost in the autumn, which helps keep moisture in the soil and provides valuable nutrients.<\/p>\n

Caring for erythroniums<\/h4>\n

Smaller species such as E<\/em>. dens-canis <\/em>benefit from some cool shade, even when dormant, so a woodland garden or border of deciduous shrubs is ideal. Here they can make the most of the light while the trees are bare and take advantage of the shade in summer to prevent them drying out. If grown in pots, move them to a cool, shady spot once they have died down.<\/p>\n

Less vigorous spreaders, such as E<\/em>. hendersonii<\/em>, E<\/em>. citrinum <\/em>and E<\/em>. oregonum<\/em>, are best left to their own devices. They will slowly spread, often by seed, and find their own place in a border. You can also collect the seed and sow them yourself. Cut the seed pods off in early summer and keep them dry in a paper bag until early autumn.<\/p>\n

How to grow erythroniums from seed<\/h4>\n

Growing from seed is a slow process and it might take five years until they flower but it can be the only way to get some of the more unusual species.Sow in pots and only lightly cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or fine grit. Place the pots in a sheltered spot outside until they germinate.<\/p>\n

The best erythroniums for your garden<\/h2>\n

Erythronium revolutum<\/em><\/h3>\n
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