Erythronium californicum
California fawn lily
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Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erythronium californicum (California fawn lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by white flowers with banding pattern most diagnostic.
California fawn lily is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in openings of dry woodland at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white to cream flowers with yellow bases, delicately banded in brown to red, with 1 to 3 blooms on each stem. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with a distinctive bulb, it develops slender stems emerging from an ovoid underground bulb. Its leaves are 7 to 15 centimeters long, oblong to narrowly ovate, beautifully mottled with brown or white markings. Each flower features perianth parts 25 to 40 millimeters long with delicate, small sac-like folds at the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; white flowers with banding pattern most diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in dry woodland
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Mendocino, Lake, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tehama, Placer, Shasta, Glenn, Humboldt, Del Norte, Sonoma, Napa, San Bernardino, Butte, Santa Cruz, El Dorado, Nevada, Solano
Bloom period
Erythronium californicum blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Lilium: Erythronium has two mottled basal leaves; Lilium has unmottled leaves arranged in whorls up the stem.; vs Scoliopus: Erythronium has nodding flowers with reflexed petals; Scoliopus has upright flowers with twisted, purple-striped petals.; vs Sparaxis: Erythronium has two basal leaves and nodding flowers; Sparaxis has grass-like leaves and upright flowers.; vs Fritillaria: Erythronium has mottled basal leaves; Fritillaria has unmottled narrow leaves arranged up the stem.; vs Tulipa: Erythronium has mottled leaves and nodding flowers with reflexed petals; Tulipa has plain leaves and upright cup-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythronium californicum native to California?
Yes. Erythronium californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythronium californicum bloom?
Erythronium californicum blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Erythronium californicum grow?
Erythronium californicum occurs in Mendocino, Lake, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tehama, Placer, Shasta, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Erythronium californicum belong to?
Erythronium californicum is in the Liliaceae family, genus Erythronium.
What habitat does Erythronium californicum grow in?
Erythronium californicum grows in Openings in dry woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erythronium citrinum — Cream fawnlily
- Erythronium citrinum var. citrinum — Lemon-colored fawn lily
- Erythronium citrinum var. roderickii — Scott mountains fawn lily
- Erythronium grandiflorum subsp. grandiflorum — Glacier lily
- Erythronium helenae — St. helena fawn lily
- Erythronium hendersonii — Henderson's fawn lily
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.