Erythronium revolutum, coast fawn lily
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Perennials

Erythronium revolutum

coast fawn lily

LiliaceaeNorth America

At a Glance

TypeBulb
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height6–14 inches (15–35 cm)
Width4–8 inches (10–20 cm)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 9
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Erythronium revolutum, commonly called coast fawn lily, pink fawn lily, or mahogany fawn lily, is a cormous perennial in the family Liliaceae native to moist coastal forests, streambanks, and woodland margins from southern British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and northern California. It is among the most attractive and garden-worthy of the Pacific Northwest native bulbs. Plants grow 6–14 inches (15–35 cm) tall, producing two broad, lance-shaped basal leaves heavily mottled in brown, maroon, and silver-green — the fawn-spotted pattern that gives the group its common name. In mid-spring, one to two (rarely three) nodding flowers open per stem, each with six reflexed tepals in deep to pale pink, often with a white or yellow zone at the base and a yellow anther cluster at the center. Plants are summer-dormant from midsummer onward, disappearing entirely until the following spring. Erythronium revolutum naturalizes readily in suitable woodland garden conditions and is an excellent companion to other Pacific Northwest native spring ephemerals.

Native Range

Native to the Pacific Coast of North America from southern British Columbia south through western Washington and Oregon to northwestern California. The species grows in moist to wet coniferous and mixed woodland, streambanks, seeps, and forest margins, primarily at low to moderate elevations below 3,000 feet (900 m). It is typically associated with moist, humus-rich soils under alder, red cedar, and Douglas fir.

Suggested Uses

Coast fawn lily is an outstanding native bulb for woodland gardens, shaded streambanks, and naturalistic plantings under deciduous trees. Plant in generous drifts of 10 or more corms for the best visual effect in spring. Pairs naturally with Dicentra formosa, Trillium ovatum, Oxalis oregana, and native ferns for a quintessential Pacific Northwest woodland spring garden. The flowers are visited by early-season native bees.

How to Identify

Coast fawn lily is identified by its pair of broad, lance-shaped basal leaves 5–9 inches (12–23 cm) long, strongly mottled with brown, maroon, and silvery-white blotches in a pattern resembling a fawn's coat. Flowers are nodding, with six reflexed tepals in deep to pale pink, each with a pale or white zone at the base surrounding a cluster of yellow to white anthers. The recurved tepals bend back so far that their tips nearly meet behind the flower. Stems are 6–14 inches (15–35 cm) tall, leafless above the basal leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'2"
Width/Spread4" - 8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink
white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Spring
Coast fawn lily blooms in mid to late spring, typically March through May in Pacific Northwest lowland sites, depending on elevation and aspect. Individual flowers last one to two weeks. Plants emerge from corms in late winter and go fully dormant by midsummer — the foliage yellows and disappears by June or July. In garden conditions, clumps slowly increase over years by offsets and, less commonly, by self-seeding.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Deep to pale pink with white or yellow basal zone

Foliage Description

Deep green heavily mottled with brown, maroon, and silvery-white

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Full Shade
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loampeat
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3–5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant Erythronium revolutum corms in autumn, 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) deep in moist, humus-rich, well-drained to moist soil in partial to full shade under deciduous trees. Corms must not dry out before or after planting — store briefly if necessary and plant promptly. The species requires consistent moisture from autumn through spring and tolerates brief flooding but must be reasonably dry in summer during dormancy. Top-dress annually with leaf mould or compost. Avoid disturbing established colonies; plants multiply slowly from offsets and seed to form naturalized drifts. No fertilization is required in organically rich woodland soil.

Pruning

No pruning is required. Allow foliage to yellow and die back naturally in early summer as plants enter dormancy; do not remove prematurely, as the leaves continue to fuel corm development. Mark planting positions clearly, as the plants are completely invisible from midsummer to late winter. Remove spent flower stems only if self-seeding is not desired.

Pruning Schedule

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late spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown