Erythronium shastense

Shasta fawn lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Shasta fawn lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in north-facing, shaded limestone forest openings at elevations of 330 to 1,020 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white flowers with a yellow base, delicately tinged pink in bud and fading to soft pinkish-purple, with 1 to 3 nodding blooms on tall stems. Growing with a slender bulb 25 to 95 millimeters long, it develops elegant stems supporting distinctive leaves. Its leaves are 12 to 26 centimeters long, lanceolate to elliptic, marked with striking white or brown mottling and slightly wavy margins. The fruit develops 1.3 to 3.2 centimeters long, completing its graceful seasonal cycle.

Habitat: North-facing, shaded limestone outcrops in forest openings

Bloom period: Feb-Apr

Elevation: 330-1020 m

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