Flower count - WAS: What makes erythroniums bloom?

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:27:17 PDT
The question was
>Re: Erythronium tuolumnense:  What is the coldest temperature that anyone
>has grown this at?   Or- what is the highest elevation at which it grows.?
>I know that Tuolumne Meadows at 8600 'has gotten to -14 ° F, and I assume
>that it might be found there.   Having read recent postings,  I think I NEED
>this to be in my garden in Illinois.

The name of the plant does not refer to Tuolumne 
Meadows, but to the Tuolumne River, which rises 
near and runs through the plateau on which the 
Meadows lie, and to Tuolumne County, where this 
species has its very narrow range. The 
erythronium grows lower down, reported at 600-950 
meters elevation. At that elevation winter snow 
cover would not be continuous, but winter 
temperatures would not drop much below 20 F/minus 
12 C. This plant is widely grown in the Pacific 
Northwest in areas where winter lows in the 
mid-teens F are common. However, that does not 
mean it will thrive in Illinois, where it will be 
subject to summer rainfall and warm night temperatures.

Jane McGary


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