Perfect Woodland Plants, Erythronium.

Perfect Woodland Plants.

Erythronium howellii from New Zealand seed. 

Erythronium species all are spring flowering, herbaceous perennial bulbs, flowering for a short time.
All of my Erythronium's grow in semi shade in woodland conditions,  they are growing in deep leaf litter except Erythronium hendersonii it does not like to be buried under too many leaves, and I find it needs a little more sun than the other Erythronium's that I grow. The common name for Erythronium is Dog's tooth violet originating in Europe for Erythronium dens-canis and I think this has moved to cover all the Erythroniums, meaning the bulb resembles the canine teeth of a dog. There are very few people selling Erythroniums in Australia, so, much seed sowing is done by me to increase my Erythronium's  but they take 6 to 7 years to flower so it is a slow process. I sow my Erythronium seed out side in the rain, as I think that helps in germinating the seed, in a cool shaded position up and away from slugs, and the seed is covered by a layer of 1/4 inch minor gravel approx 1/2" deep to stop the rain splashing the seed out of the pots. There are some of the specie Erythronium I struggle to raise from seed as it does not get cold enough in the Dandenong's we do not get frosts, and I think this breaks their dormancy and helps them germinate. But I keep trying and one day you never know Erythronium sibericum and E. japonicum may come up. There is a book for excellent reference The Genus Erythronium by Chris Clennett but I wish there were more photo's. There is always the internet now so you can cross reference with both, but it is still a struggle as some seem to be wrongly named in our garden.

I raised this Erythronium as albidum its not of course it should have mottled leaves, its lovely I think it may be the white E. revolutum  but in books it say's E revolutum is rarely white and this sets good seed that always germinate as white, I have no idea with the next 2 photo's below.

Erythronium Pagoda a hybrid raised in Holland between E. White Beauty and E. toulumnense it is a strong grower and has lovely yellow flowers, approx 30cm high.

Erythronium caucasicum in leaf from Archibald seed, white flowers, from the Caucasus and Talysh Mountains of Asia. Likes a coolish position in Australia bulbs go down deep.

Erythronium citrinum from Oregon and California, the leaves are a dark purplish green and handsomely mottled, close up of the flower below. Another Erythronium from Archibald seed 2000.

Erythronium cliftonii has not been botanically studied as yet, but it is sold and distributed under this name. Similar to E. multiscapoideum but larger in all parts. Northern California in serpentine cliff crevices (above).

Erythronium dens-canis a lovely dark form from Archibald seed 99 472-003 collected Slovenia, just one bulb I hope it will gradually multiply.

Erythronium dens-canis album did not like being moved from my other garden, lost nearly the lot hopefully there may be one bulb left. Other wise I will need to start again. (Above)

Erythronium helenae above and below mottling on the leaves yellow centre without any markings and the flowers fade to pink as they age. I had the scent of lemons in the glass house on Thursday as the flowers were fully open exuding their scent on a warm day of 22 deg.celsius.

Erythronium hendersonii the next four photos violet-pink flowers with purple anthers and centre markings of purple, leaves are mottled, one of the prettiest Erythroniums. Siskiyou mountains southern Oregon and northern California in mountain woodland. As I said earlier it needs a little more sun than some of the other Erythroniums.

Erythronium multiscapoideum from Hill view rare Plants a beautifully marked Erythronium, does well for me from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California in woodland and scrub. (Above)

Erythronium oregonum sub. sp leucandrum from North North West seed, they no longer sell seed, which is a pity as their seed germinated well for me.Vancouver Island to Washington and Oregon. Another easy to grow Erythronium for Australian conditions.(Below)

A close up to show the markings of Erythronium oregonum sub sp. leucandrum. (Below)

Aaron's hybrid not sure where he got this from but it is a lovely soft yellow Erythronium with a lightly mottled leaf. (Below)

One of my Erythronium revolutum hybrids with lovely markings in the centre. It is just from collecting your own seed and seeing what you get from them. Besides it is the only way of multiplying your plants. (The next two photo's below).

Erythronium revolutum Peach from Scottish Rock Garden seedex  it is settling in nicely. Marbbled leaves and the flowers open up to white E. revolutum is from Vancouver Island to northern California in damp woods. Erythronium revolutum also does well in Australian conditions. Luckily the Erythronium bulbs will pull themselves down deep to escape the heat. (Below)

A new Zealand hybrid Erythronium Ruapuna Dawn in a garden called Thirlstane that we accidentally came across while travelling in the South Island of New Zealand. (Below)

Erythronium White Beauty it is a selection of Erythronium californicum an easy hybrid in the garden and sets good seed. The flowers are a creamy white with strong rusty red markings in the centre of the flowers, you will get all kinds of lovely markings when you grow this Erythronium from seed. (Below)

Erythronium hendersonii cross photographed at the Canterbury Alpine garden show in Christchurch one Erythronium I hanker after, I think I have seed up from the New Zealand Alpine Garden Soc. seedex just have to wait and see now in approximately 6 years I will know. White-pale pink flowers with pinkish stamens with purple marks in the centre of the flower, just stunning. Next 2 photos below