Eythronium, anyone has experience with it ?

Hi bonitin, I have Erythronium 'Pagoda' which I bought growing in a pot. It had made 3 bulbs, which I separated and planted at the outer edge of the Horse Chestnut tree, facing east at the bottom of a bank. It did take a few years to flower again, it sometimes doesn't even make a show until established, two of them have grown well now, the other I think was still there last year but I didn't see it this year. They have multiplied again.

The leaves do stay for a while but not that long, I have mine amongst a succulent which I'm trying to remember the name of (it is know by two names, long ones!), it has drooping heads of small yellow flowers and some leaves remain overwinter, growing more after the Erythronium dies back. behind that on the bank I have Anemone blanda, which flowers at the same time.

I put in E. japonicum and I think White Beauty last spring, between some roses which get some shade, they didn't make an appearance but hopefully will next year.

This pic shows them this year on 14th April, they didn't show mottling like they did last year, perhaps it was the cold weather! Behind there is Lily of the Valley newly shooting, and Omphallodes in flower with blue flowers, some of the Anemone blanda can be seen, and the succulent around the Erythronium. The gap in between has Tricyrtis hirta which grows later.

I could only find a poor picture of the succulent, with a tiny bumblebee on it, I got it from Bloms Bulbs but they haven't got it in this Autumns catalogue. If I remember the name I will let you know, I think it started with 'Ch' for one of the names, I haven't put it to memory for a long time!

I went through the 'ch' names in my RHS plantfinder until I recognised the name of the succulent! 'Chiastophyllum oppositifolium' now you know why I couldn't remember it!

http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/image?invocationType=topsearchbox.image&query=%27chiastophyllum+oppositifolium%27

Thanks Wallaby! you made me realise that I shouldn't expect too much performance in its first year...The foliage of your lovely E.'Pagoda' is really big! As you combined it with this succulent 'Chiastophyllum oppositifolium' I'm thinking now that your Erythronium must get quit some sun or is it a succulent that thrives in more shady spots ? I'm afraid that the place I've planted mine will only get about 2 hours sun, and this is only in springtime before my birch tree and cherry tree put on their dresses again, I hope that will be enough..
I thought I would combine mine with soleirolia soleirolii that thrives very well in my garden, even in winter time, wood oxalis species and mosses. I've also tried a couple of times the charming Anemone blanda but don't manage to keep it happy...

My Erythronium bulbs I bought on a plant fair from a very interesting Dutch bulb nursery called 'Peter Nijssen' who is specialised in less common available bulbs. They looked in excellent condition! In my unwise greed I also bought a Fritillaria eduardii and am breaking my head now to find a suitable place for it to keep it happy. I think I'm going to have it planted on my upstairs terrace in a large container where it has to share the company of other sun-lovers... And I'm really hopeless as afterwards I even got more greedy and ordered several other types of Frittilarias I fell in love with on his website...

The 'Chiastophyllum oppositifolium' does get some sun, not sure how much but it is facing east, the Horse Chestnut tree when in leaf shades it until the afternoon, then it's probably far enough away from the bank to get some sun but it doesn't get a lot. It possibly gets a little in the morning when the sun is more northerly in the sky in summer, it then swings around behind the tree. In mid April the tree is only just starting to grow leaves.

I too have fallen for many Fritillarias, but so far those I have tried haven't been successful other than the large and showy F. imperialis, I shall see how that performs next year as others usually flower one year then disappear. Good luck with yours!

Hi bonitin,
I have my Erythronium growing through Phlox subulata which fully blooms after the trout lily finishes. I found this way the Erythronium is protected when dormant and the Phlox has evergreen foliage after it finishes blooming. It is in partial sun, enough for the daffodils and tulips to bloom, but not too much, so the Heuchera (Green Spice) doesn't burn. These are 2 plants in the second year.

Here is a closer view also showing leaves of a few more plants that seeded? or spread from the original 2 plants.They did not bloom. The 1st yr. only one bloomed. Unfortunately my photo isn't as nice as the beautiful one posted by wallaby.

Here is the Phlox subulata in full bloom. This is a really easy plant for a full sun to partially shaded spot that just needs to be sheared back after blooming. I have tried the trout lily in a more shaded spot and didn't have a bloom. I would be curious to know how yours did with less light.

If the trout lily grows and blooms well for you in a much shadier spot woodland phox, Phlox divaricata would be very pretty. "Clouds of Perfume" is a beautiful ice blue and smells wonderful. I lost that one to slugs but others have survived as long as I use slug bait.
I could only find a June photo, after the phlox had bloomed. It's the small variegated plant in front spilling over the rocks. The variety is "Montrose Tricolor" This is a more shaded part of my garden under 2 large Norway Spruce.
edited to say- You've inspired me to try a few trout lilies here next year and give the shadier spot another try.

This message was edited Oct 23, 2007 9:06 AM

Thank you Sempervirens!
Your picture of the 'Pagoda' is very beautiful!

I tried both phloxes; the divaricata and the subulata, I like them very much but lost both each time, sometimes even after one single night to slugs and snails until I gave up. But that was in my beginning years before I had toads introduced. But now I have a huge army of them that keep slug damage under control, so I probably should give it another try and I think I'll try to find the Phlox divaricata 'Clouds of Perfume' that sounds very tempting!
I will have to exercise patience though with my newly purchased Erythroniums like you also had only blooms in its second year if I understood it right...
I actually could have much more sun in my south oriented garden if I would cut my bamboos, but these serve as a perfect screen that gives privacy from the neighbours, so it is a dilemma of sun versus privacy..
Last year I managed to thin them out without loosing too much of the privacy factor and got a lot more light and sun.
I'll have to do the same again, because being vigorous plants like they are the effect is lost by now.

bonitin,
You are very welcome. I remember buying the trout lily ( 2 plants) in bloom at the local garden club. Only 1 bloomed the next year, and I have 2 that bloomed this year.
I had the same problem with the wood phlox and slugs. It took 4 tries and the use of Sluggo to actually establish plants.( I wish I had toads and have enjoyed the frogs and toad thread on the European gardening forum).
I am surprised you had slug damage on the phlox subulata. This one is totally carefree for me. I do have most of them in full or partial sun.