Erythronium 2017

[Robert]

Erythronium multiscapideum

Julie,

It is nice to see Erythronium multiscapideum again.    Our local wild populations finished blooming a month ago. Your growing season in Washington is so far behind ours, here in California. By any chance do you know the wild origin of your Erythronium multiscapideum? Even the higher elevation forms of E. multiscapideum such as those on the Rubicon River or those growing in Butte County have finished blooming.

[Shadylanejewel]

By any chance do you know the wild origin of your Erythronium multiscapideum? Even the higher elevation forms of E. multiscapideum such as those on the Rubicon River or those growing in Butte County have finished blooming.

Hi Robert,

The source was Northwest Native seeds #NNS 06-242 and sown 2/6/2008. Description from the 2008 Catalog says "Northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Butte Co., CA. 2400' This erythronium is unique in that the scape branches near its base which is usually hidden in the leaf bases, and bulblets are produced on slender rhizomes. The flowers are creamy-white with an orange-yellow base and white anthers. The size of the flowers varies in this population with some approaching the size of the “cliftonii” form. The leaves are heavily mottled. Many are purplish-brown with dark green veining. Fine gritty serpentine soil on w-facing slopes with Ceanothus cunneatus and a few gray pines."

Last year these same plants were blooming on 3/26/2016 so about 3 1/2 weeks earlier.

Julie

[David Nicholson]

It's a pretty thing Julie, is that your first Erythronium of the season?

[Shadylanejewel]

It's a pretty thing Julie, is that your first Erythronium of the season?

Thank you David. No it isn't the first, more like tied for sixth.

First was Erythronium japonicum 3/23/17 (unfortunately, it failed to completely open)
Second Erythronium revolutum 4/2/2017
Third Erythronium Pagoda 4/6/2017 (no photo)
Fourth Erythronium 'White Beauty' 4/9/2017
Fifth Erythronium oregonum 4/10/2017
Tied for sixth Erythronium hendersonii 4/17/2017

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Julie, it's always nice to see others plants. I like your E. japonicum, a lovely rich colour, not one that is freely available over here.

[Robert]

Julie,

Your other Erythroniums look nice too! 

Thank you for the information concerning your Erythronium multiscapideum. There is a large serpentine extrusion in the Magalia area of Butte County. It has been years since I have been there, however I would like to return. In the 1970-80's a friend and I would go down to the West Branch of the Feather River at Whiskey Flat. The serpentine extrusion extends down into the canyon and continues part way up the other side. There are many interesting species that I have seen there. I remember one year when the whole eastern canyon slope was dotted with Lilium humboldtii in bloom. It was such a beautiful sight! There is also a secret passage to the upper reaches of the West Branch Canyon. There are even more amazing species to find in this area.

Thank you again for the information. The reminder of this area is another force to motivate me to return to this region soon! 

[Shadylanejewel]

Thanks Julie, it's always nice to see others plants. I like your E. japonicum, a lovely rich colour, not one that is freely available over here.

Thank you David. I tried keeping the E. japonicum covered this year in hopes of it opening fully (advice from Ian Young). Unfortunately, I think the ground was still too wet and the air too cold. I'll try again next year.  Definitely would like more of them.

Thank you again for the information. The reminder of this area is another force to motivate me to return to this region soon! 

You're very welcome Robert. Glad to be able to help. Greatly look forward to seeing a post in your botanical adventures involving that region and its amazing species. 

[Roma]

Erythronium japonicum about 2 weeks ago
My original Erythronium revolutum johnsonii  -  deep pink flowers and well marked leaves
I planted out lots of Erythronium revolutum two years ago.  The weather has been very dry and windy recently so the have not lasted long

[Roma]

Erythronium tuolumnense split up two years ago and doing well now.  The stems bent over with the frost two days and are now a bit crooked.
I grew this dainty Erythronium from seed as californicum x multiscapoideum.  I don't grow either parent so do not know if this is correctly named.

[Robert]

Roma,

Your Erythroniums are very nice especially the E. toulumnense.

Reply #46 from Julie provides some very good information pertinent to E. multiscapideum. E. multiscapideum and E. californicum are very similar. Two characteristics distinguish the species from each other: 1.) E. multiscapideum has rhizomes that produce bulbs at the end, E. californicum does not 2.) With E. multiscapideum the scape branches near the base, often below ground level, with E. californicum the scape branches well above the base of the plant.

Your plants look very much like Erythronium californicum, however they still may be hybrids. They very well may have hybrid vigor that might make them quite distinguished! As they grow on you might find that you have some "stars" among them.

Thank you so much for sharing the photographs!

[Maggi Young]

Neil and Sue Huntley, of Hartside Nursery, have won a Gold Medal at the Harrogate Flower show, with this display - which has a lot of good erythroniums in it!

[Leena]

Erythronium sibiricum opened last week.

[David Nicholson]

A lovely form.

[Leena]

Thanks David, I like it too, and hope to get seeds from it.

[Cfred72]

Leena, I also find that your Erythronium sibiricum is superb. I also like Erythronium japonicum. I dream of finding one day at a plant fair or a seed proposal on exchange.