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Erythronium hendersonii

Henderson's Fawn-lily · Henderson's Fawnlily

Family LiliaceaeGenus Erythronium

Two nodding lilac flowers with dark centers and orange anthers, on arching pink stalks
FlowerN5jrn at English WikipediaCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Violet, pinkFlora of North America
Native range
California, OregonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Henderson's fawn lily can be very abundant in its range in southwestern Oregon and northern California. In March some places are carpeted with thousands of them, often flowering alongside Dodecatheon hendersonii. Wikipedia: Erythronium hendersonii

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

87% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Erythronium p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. hendersonii x citrinum germ. 40(86% in 9-12 w) and 70-40(87% in 8-12 w). This is identical to the pattern for E. hendersonii.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Erythronium p. 42. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

86% germination in 63–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Erythronium p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. hendersonii x citrinum germ. 40(86% in 9-12 w) and 70-40(87% in 8-12 w). This is identical to the pattern for E. hendersonii.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Erythronium p. 42. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

93% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. hendersoni germ. 40(93% in 8-12 w)-70(7% on 2nd d) and 70-40(80% in 11th w)-70(20% on 2nd d) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 20, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    20 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

80% germination in 77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. hendersoni germ. 40(93% in 8-12 w)-70(7% on 2nd d) and 70-40(80% in 11th w)-70(20% on 2nd d) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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