Erythronium citrinum
Cream fawnlily
(c) Parker James Lloyd, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erythronium citrinum (Cream fawnlily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by slender bulb and aging to pink most distinctive.
Cream fawnlily is a California native perennial found in rocky montane and subalpine habitats at elevations of 300 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from March to June, this delicate bulb produces white flowers with yellow bases, aging to a soft pink, with blooms 25 to 45 millimeters long arranged singly or in small clusters of up to three. Growing with slender stems 12 to 35 centimeters tall, sometimes tinged with red, it emerges from a small bulb 40 to 50 millimeters long. Its distinctive leaves are 9 to 15 centimeters long, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, with wavy margins and unique mottled brown or white patterning. The flower's white stamens and style create an elegant, intricate bloom with subtle color variations from white to cream or soft pink.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; slender bulb and aging to pink most distinctive
Habitat and range
California counties: Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Butte, Tuolumne
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 citrinum native to California?
Yes. Erythronium citrinum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Erythronium citrinum grow?
Erythronium citrinum occurs in Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Butte, Tuolumne.
What plant family does Erythronium citrinum belong to?
Erythronium citrinum is in the Liliaceae family, genus Erythronium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Erythronium howellii — Howell'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.