Description

California’s sixteen species of fawn lily are most commonly found in the northwestern corner of the state where they thrive with wet winters and mild summers. A few species are found in the central Sierra Nevada and the northern coastal ranges, and several extend into Oregon and beyond. As the name implies, Oregon fawn lily is common in the coastal mountains of Oregon. In California its range tapers off in southern Humboldt County. The growing season behind in mid-winter with a pair of spatula-shaped leaves which bend to lie close to the ground. The upper leaf surface is decorated with mottling that ranges from maroon to white in color. As winter approaches a mature bulb will send up flower stalks with one to several flowers. The flowers are pendent with recurved petals, very much like California’s leopard lilies in shape. The flowers are white with yellow centers. When happy, Oregon fawn lily will expand to form a large patch. A shady site with supplemental summer irrigation would best suit them. Like all erythroniums, Oregon fawn lily is dormant from mid-spring through mid-winter.