Erythronium americanum - how to get it to flower

[Hoy]

I have the 99% that don't flower at all!

[CMiller]

I have thousands of these and most bloom every year.  I read that they like cooler temperatures and will grow bigger if cooler.  They bloom best if there is a slow Spring with a delay between snow melt and the leafing of the canopy.  I presume that if it gets hot rapidly in the Spring, that flowering will be affected.  There is an abstract I read at http://www.jstor.org/pss/2445130 which says they do better if some large trees are removed occasionally.  That might be true because I have many Abies balsamea which are a very short-lived tree, snapping off at the trunk after 40 or 50 years.   

[Hoy]

I have thousands of these and most bloom every year.  I read that they like cooler temperatures and will grow bigger if cooler.  They bloom best if there is a slow Spring with a delay between snow melt and the leafing of the canopy.  I presume that if it gets hot rapidly in the Spring, that flowering will be affected.  There is an abstract I read at http://www.jstor.org/pss/2445130 which says they do better if some large trees are removed occasionally.  That might be true because I have many Abies balsamea which are a very short-lived tree, snapping off at the trunk after 40 or 50 years.   

Cool temperatures are no problems here! Do your plants get lot of water?

[CMiller]

Yes, indeed, the plants are practically in standing water in many areas and yet, they bloom nicely.  This standing water occurs when the ground is still frozen but the snow melts.  If I stick a shovel in my ground when it thaws in the Spring, the hole quickly fills with water.  There are areas with sphagnum too and lots of rotted wood and leaves. 

[Lis Allison]

Yes, adequate sunlight may be key to getting E. americanum to bloom. I've got acres of the darn things, including many plants that might be E. albidum because they have no mottling on the leaves and the leaves are silvery blue-green, and get very few flowers. Still, this year there were significantly more than other years and indeed many were in places where downed trees had opened up the canopy. I'm not sure about the effect of water as many of mine which bloomed were on rocks and quite dry. Maybe it's a matter of enough water, enough sunlight and enough soil to add up to the plant having the energy to bloom. I moved a blooming one into a garden bed in 2009, so if rich conditions have an effect, it should be noticeable. It did bloom this year so maybe.

[Hoy]

Thanks Connie. I think I have to move some of my plants to a wetter and sunnier place. Where they are now they have to compete with some shrubs (Neillia and rhodos).
Your property seems to be a very exciting piece of land! I would say that the flooding is a pro and no contra. I would have been very careful with what I planted not to disturb the native flora and fauna too much.

[Kelaidis]

I have grown Erythronium for twenty or more years at Denver Botanic Gardens where it blooms reliably: I have only one miserable picture to prove it...I have others I may locate sooner or later. It is actually one of the best Erythroniums I grow. It has spread to make quite a patch and comes up in the midst of other plants (like the Veronica armena and Pulsatilla in this picture). It is in a very rich peat bed with a north facing aspect but otherwise in full blasting Colorado sun.

I haven't had good luck with Erythronium americanum (full disclosure) although I recall spectacular woodlands full of it on the Cornell Campus in late April...I have been wanting to re create that some time!

[Hoy]

I have grown Erythronium for twenty or more years at Denver Botanic Gardens where it blooms reliably: I have only one miserable picture to prove it...I have others I may locate sooner or later. It is actually one of the best Erythroniums I grow. It has spread to make quite a patch and comes up in the midst of other plants (like the Veronica armena and Pulsatilla in this picture). It is in a very rich peat bed with a north facing aspect but otherwise in full blasting Colorado sun.

I haven't had good luck with Erythronium americanum (full disclosure) although I recall spectacular woodlands full of it on the Cornell Campus in late April...I have been wanting to re create that some time!

It seems they take sun but dislike competition from strong growing shrubs and trees. I have to remove some of mine, I think.

[Todd Boland]

Those at our Botanical garden are growing in full morning sun but afternoon shade....any too themselves with no competition.  The soil is quite wet in fall-winter-spring and even in summer, never fully dries.  My shy bloomers at home are from a different source and have to fight it out with many neighbours.  The 'plants' don't mind...they have even spread happily into the lawn but flowers are scanty, although better blooming than 1%!  I have to get some of the strain from our BG as they are soooo free-flowering.

[McDonough]

Those at our Botanical garden are growing in full morning sun but afternoon shade....any too themselves with no competition.  The soil is quite wet in fall-winter-spring and even in summer, never fully dries.  My shy bloomers at home are from a different source and have to fight it out with many neighbours.  The 'plants' don't mind...they have even spread happily into the lawn but flowers are scanty, although better blooming than 1%!  I have to get some of the strain from our BG as they are soooo free-flowering.

Todd, I've been sitting on the fence on this one, is there a cultural problem that inhibits flowering, or perhaps some forms are just better flowering than others.  Based on your comments, I'm going to side with the latter.  I'd be happy (maybe) with even the 1% blooming that you report, I've had my plants for about 10 years, and they have never flowered (0% flowering), but are spreading happily around.