Follow Us:

Erythronium howellii - S.Watson.

Common Name

Howell's Fawn Lily

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

Found in serpentine substrates in yellow pine forest plant communities[276].

Range

Western N. America - northern California and Oregon to British Columbia.

Edibility Rating

(2 of 5)

Other Uses

(0 of 5)

Weed Potential

No

Medicinal Rating

(0 of 5)

Care (info)

Moist Soil

Semi-shade

Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Erythronium howellii is a BULB growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
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;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

The following use has been noted for the closely related E. origonum and probably also applies to this species[K]. Bulb - raw, cooked or dried for later use[183].

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

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]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200]. Bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep[1]. This species is closely related to E. helenae, E. origonum, E. citrinum and E. californicum[207]. According to the Flora of North America, this species is no more than a synonym for E. citrinum[270].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Celsius Fahrenheit:

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

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oregon, California)

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 Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Erythronium albidum	White Trout-Lily, White fawnlily	Bulb	0.1	4-8		LM	S	M	3	0
Erythronium albidum mesochoreum	Prairie Trout Lily	Bulb	0.1	4-8		LM	S	M	3	0
Erythronium americanum	Trout Lily, Dogtooth violet	Bulb	0.2	3-7		LM	S	M	4	1	3
Erythronium californicum	Fawn Lily, California fawnlily	Bulb	0.3	0-0		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium citrinum	Pale Fawn Lily, Cream fawnlily, Roderick's fawnlily	Bulb	0.3	0-0		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium dens-canis	Dog's-Tooth Violet	Bulb	0.2	3-7		LM	S	M	3	0
Erythronium grandiflorum	Yellow Fawn Lily	Bulb	0.3	3-7	S	LM	S	DM	3	1	2
Erythronium helenae	Mt. St. Helena Fawm Lily, Pacific fawnlily	Bulb	0.3	4-8		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium hendersonii	Henderson's Fawn Lily	Bulb	0.3	0-0		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium japonicum	Katakuri	Bulb	0.2	-		LM	S	M	4	0
Erythronium montanum	Avelanche Lily, White avalanche-lily	Bulb	0.3	0-0		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium multiscapideum	Adderstongue	Bulb	0.3	-		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium oregonum	Giant White Fawnlily	Bulb	0.5	4-8		LM	S	M	2	1
Erythronium purpurascens	Avelanche Lily, Purple fawnlily	Bulb	0.3	0-0		LM	S	M	2	0
Erythronium revolutum	Pink Fawn Lily, Mahogany fawnlily	Bulb	0.3	4-8		LM	S	M	3	0
Erythronium tuolumnense	Tuolumne Fawn Lily, Dog's Tooth Violet, Pagoda Lily	Bulb	0.3	4-9	M	LM	S	M	2	0

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.

Support Plants For A Future

Plants For A Future relies on regular donations to keep our free database and search facilities going, to pay for ongoing research, improvements and enhancements, and to develop and publish new books. Read more

Choose Currency

Donate in £ GBP Donate in $ USD Donate in € EUR

Securely pay via PayPal or Credit/Debit Card without an account.

Expert comment

Author

S.Watson.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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

Readers comment


Emily	Thu Jun 8 2006

This site has been really helpful for my plant report. It's the resource that's given me the most information, but I still need this plant's classification. You know. Like Kingdom, Class, Order that kind of thing. So maybe you should post that information onto this site. But you did show the Family and Genus. But other than that this site was amazing!

Search for Erythonium howellii

© 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.