Erythronium oregonum

Giant fawn lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Giant fawn lily is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges in woodland openings at elevations of 100 to 750 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to cream flowers with a yellow base, 30 to 45 millimeters long, emerging individually or in clusters of up to three. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, ranging from green to slightly reddish, it emerges from a narrow ovoid bulb 35 to 50 millimeters in size. Its leaves are widely lanceolate to ovate, 10 to 22 centimeters long, distinctively mottled with brown or white patches and featuring slightly wavy margins. The flower's inner perianth parts have distinctive sac-like folds at the base, with white filaments and cream to yellow anthers creating an elegant botanical display.

Habitat: Openings in woodland

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: 100-750 m

Bioregions: NCoRO

California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.