We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Erythronium japonicum - Decne.

Common Name Katakuri
Family Liliaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
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[65].
Habitats Woods in lowland and low mountains of C. and N. Japan[90]. Moist places in forests, S Jilin and Liaoning provinces in hina[266].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade
Erythronium japonicum Katakuri


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kropsoq
Erythronium japonicum Katakuri
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kropsoq

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Erythronium japonicum is a BULB growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from March to April, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Lawn;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Bulb - raw or cooked. The source of a starch, called 'katakuri-ko' in Japan. It is used in dumplings, confectionery, as a thickener in soups etc[177, 183]. It is preferred over other starches for use in sauces which must thicken but not gel upon cooling[183]. The bulb is about 1cm wide and up to 6cm long-266].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these contain plenty of humus[164]. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil[42, 164]. Succeeds in almost any light soil, preferring one that is rich in humus[1]. Slugs love this plant and often eat out the leaves[90]. Flowers are produced in 3 - 4 years from seed[164]. Bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep[1]. According to some botanists, this species is no more than a variety of E. dens-canis[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer, it should germinate in autumn or winter[164, 200]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification[164]. Sow as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow the seed thinly so that it will not be necessary to prick them out for their first year of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed to the seedlings to make sure that they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for another 2 3 years and then plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant in late summer. Division of the bulbs in the summer as the leaves die down[1]. Larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on in a shady position in a greenhouse for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Jilin Sheng (south), Liaoning Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Shikoku)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Erythronium albidumWhite Trout-Lily, White fawnlilyBulb0.1 4-8  LMSM30 
Erythronium albidum mesochoreumPrairie Trout LilyBulb0.1 4-8  LMSM30 
Erythronium americanumTrout Lily, Dogtooth violetBulb0.2 3-7  LMSM413
Erythronium californicumFawn Lily, California fawnlilyBulb0.3 0-0  LMSM20 
Erythronium citrinumPale Fawn Lily, Cream fawnlily, Roderick's fawnlilyBulb0.3 0-0  LMSM20 
Erythronium dens-canisDog's-Tooth VioletBulb0.2 3-7  LMSM30 
Erythronium grandiflorumAvalanche Lily, Yellow avalanche-lilyBulb0.2 4-8  LMSDM31 
Erythronium helenaeMt. St. Helena Fawm Lily, Pacific fawnlilyBulb0.3 4-8  LMSM20 
Erythronium hendersoniiHenderson's Fawn LilyBulb0.3 0-0  LMSM20 
Erythronium howelliiHowell's Fawn LilyBulb0.3 -  LMSM20 
Erythronium montanumAvelanche Lily, White avalanche-lilyBulb0.3 0-0  LMSM20 
Erythronium multiscapideumAdderstongueBulb0.3 -  LMSM20 
Erythronium oregonumGiant White FawnlilyBulb0.5 4-8  LMSM21 
Erythronium purpurascensAvelanche Lily, Purple fawnlilyBulb0.3 0-0  LMSM20 
Erythronium revolutumPink Fawn Lily, Mahogany fawnlilyBulb0.3 4-8  LMSM30 
Erythronium tuolumnenseTuolumne Fawn Lily, Dog's Tooth Violet, Pagoda LilyBulb0.3 4-9 MLMSM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Decne.

Botanical References

58266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Erythronium japonicum  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.