Erythronium dens-canis - Flickr - peganum (3)

Description:

Summary[edit] Description: I understand that a lot of growers have difficulty flowering these on a regular basis. I suspect that part of the problem might be treating them as moist shade lovers, as a lot of books seem to recommend. In the wild they tend to grow on sunny banks and slopes, often under deciduous trees so that they get the low spring sun coming in at them and actually forming a bit of a sun-trap. Later on the canopy fills out and keeps the ground cool (but also on the dry side because of the tree roots) A lot of vernal herbs (at least some Cyclamen, Helleborus, Hepatica, Fritillaria, Iris, Colchicum, Scilla etc) have similar habitats but not all are known as shade lovers. I get the impression that the Western US species are more damp shade species but that the eastern species (E. americanum etc are more like dens-canis). Date: 22 March 2011, 21:33. Source: Erythronium dens-canis. Author: peganum from Small Dole, England.