Erythronium

Family. Liliaceae.

Origin. America, Caucasus, Altai, Japan, China, Mongolia. In its natural habitat can be found under the forest canopy, in alpine meadows, and often in the highlands.

Description. Erythronium is a perennial flowering bulbous plant that blooms mainly in early spring. Currently, the genus has about 29 species. Translated from the Turkic language, "erythronium" means "dog's tooth". The second name is "mountain tulip", given for its early flowering and habitat.

Underground, it forms small elongated bulbs consisting of large scales. Interestingly, each bulb bears traces of past years - the bottoms of last year's bulbs.

In early spring, immediately after the snow melts, the flower forms a small stem on which there are large, narrowly lanceolate leaves, located oppositely, in pairs. The length of the leaf blades reaches 8 - 12 cm.

The color of the leaf blades is extremely interesting - almost all varieties have spotted leaves with specks of different shapes and colors. The venation is arched.

At the top of the stem there is a slightly drooping peduncle with one small bud. Some varieties are capable of forming from 2 to 4 buds on one peduncle.

The flowers resemble cyclamen - they have long, backward-curved petals. It is interesting that in bad weather, for example, during rain, the petals fall and protect the pollen from being washed away. After flowering, small seed pods appear, and in the second half of summer, a couple of weeks after the seeds ripen, the entire above-ground part can die off.

Unfortunately, human industrial activity, the collection and sale of flowers and bulbs, as well as deforestation have led to the fact that many species are on the verge of extinction.

Height. Most species reach only 10 - 30 cm in height, but there are plants up to 60 cm high..

Planting and care

How and when to plant

Primroses that bloom immediately after the snow melts can be planted at the foot of trees or shrubs. During this period of time, the sun's activity is too high, and there are no leaves on the plants yet and it will be convenient for the flower to develop in the lacy shade. It would be advisable to plant varieties with later flowering in places where the sun shines in the morning or evening. 

Too acidic soils should be poured with milk of lime and mixed with crushed chalk. If the soil on the site is poor in nutrients, then pre-fertilize with superphosphate or other mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.

For planting, prepare holes, the depth of which will depend on the specific variety and size of the bulbs.

A small layer of river sand (about 1 cm) can be poured onto the bottom of the planting holes - it will remove excess moisture and protect the bulbs from rotting. Before planting, inspect the bulbs and select the strongest and healthiest ones, without mechanical damage. Since erythronium is great for group plantings, 3-4 bulbs can be placed in each hole. After planting, the area is watered generously.

To prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil surface and delay the development of weeds, the plantings can be mulched with mown grass, burnt sawdust or straw.

Caring for a flower in the garden

Care is quite simple and even the most inexperienced gardeners can do it - plants need to be watered, fertilized and weeded in a timely manner.

The first-flowering varieties of erythronium, which open their buds immediately after the soil surface thaws, are first fed over the snow - simply scatter granules of mineral fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium over the surface of the snow. Late-flowering species begin to be fed with the first signs of new growth. The second feeding is carried out as soon as the flower stalk begins to form, and the last - third can be done after flowering, preparing the bulbs for the dormant period.

The bush responds positively to organic fertilizers, but you should not overdo it with organic matter. Plants with early flowering are not watered at first - melt water from the snow is enough for them - watering begins in May, when the soil dries out.

The root system likes to receive not only nutrition, but also oxygen, so after watering or rain, the soil is loosened, and at the same time, weeds are removed.

Wintering

Even in a rather harsh climate with a snow cover, erythronium easily overwinters without additional shelter. In areas characterized by frosty and low-snow winters, it is better to protect the flower with shelter. Before the onset of frost, areas with planted bulbs are covered from above with pine or spruce branches or sprinkled with fallen leaves. As soon as the sun begins to warm in the spring, the shelter is removed.

Useful properties and contraindications

Honey obtained from erythronium flowers is widely known - in addition to its excellent taste and bright floral aroma, this delicacy also has many healing properties. The plant is an unrivaled honey plant - early flowering and a special system of pollen protection during rain allow bees to collect it in large quantities even in limited areas.

It is interesting that the fresh product has a dark color and is similar in appearance to buckwheat honey, and after crystallization it brightens and becomes similar to baked milk. Crystallization occurs very quickly - 2 - 3 weeks after collection.

• Among the many beneficial substances that honey contains are iron, iodine, zinc, manganese, copper and calcium, vitamins B, C, E and K.
• It is believed that regular consumption of such honey helps to improve the condition of the liver, while the bile duct is cleansed, and damaged liver tissue is restored in the shortest possible time. Doctors recommend consuming this honey after poisoning and long-term use of medications that have a negative effect on the liver.
• The beekeeping product has a positive effect on the digestive system; it is recommended to be used for pancreatitis and diseases of the pancreas.
• Honey has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, reduces the number and duration of epileptic seizures, and improves the quality of sleep.
• Of course, the most well-known benefits of honey are its diaphoretic and expectorant properties - both are used during cold and flu season.
• Consuming honey has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body and helps strengthen the immune system.
• Adding honey to your skin care products can make your skin soft, moisturized, and rejuvenated. It is recommended to rinse your hair with a honey solution after washing – this will strengthen the hair follicles and reduce hair loss.

Interestingly, various parts of plants are also used in folk medicine - for example, the bulbs have a sedative effect and are used for epilepsy. Leaf plates can strengthen the immune system and have a positive effect on potency - they are dried and decoctions are made.

Contraindications for use are the presence of all kinds of allergic reactions to pollen and bee products. You should also not exceed the recommended doses of decoctions and honey, as this can lead to hypervitaminosis. 

When blooms

Depending on the species, flowering may occur immediately after the snow melts or in May. The flowering period can be about 2 weeks.

After flowering

In order for plants not to waste their energy on forming seeds, but to release nutrients into the bulbs, it is worth removing flower stalks with fading buds. The shoots are cut with a sharp sterile knife or pruning shears. The leaf blades should not be touched, as they will continue to feed the bulb until they die completely. 

Reproduction

There are 2 ways to propagate erythronium - by separating daughter bulbs and sowing seeds. 

Separation of daughter bulbs

Since during each year 1 - 2 small daughter bulbs are formed near the mother bulb, over time the bushes become crowded and it is worth planting them and dividing them into several parts. Depending on the timing of flowering, this procedure is carried out in different summer months - when the buds have completely withered and the leaf blades begin to die. You should not delay replanting, because when the entire above-ground part dies off, finding the bulbs in the ground will be problematic.

The bulbs are dug up, cleared of soil, divided and inspected for diseases and pests. If a wound surface is formed during the division process, it is sprinkled with charcoal powder. If there are signs of rot, the affected areas are cut off with a knife to healthy tissue and also sprinkled with wood ash or charcoal. Unfortunately, the planting material is not suitable for long-term storage - it quickly loses moisture, so after dividing and processing the bulbs should be planted in the ground immediately. If it is impossible to plant immediately, then store the planting material in small wooden boxes with moistened river sand or peat.

Growing from seeds

For propagation, you can use seeds that you have collected yourself. Choose a fine, dry, and warm day for collection. The seed pods are separated when they are almost ripe (around June) - fully ripened pods open up on their own and release seeds into the soil. The signal for collection will be the yellowing of the walls - then they will begin to dry out. To ripen, the pods are brought into a warm and well-ventilated room.

A small area is prepared for sowing - weeds are carefully removed and the soil is dug up. Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out in the second half of August in furrows about 3 cm deep. About 10 cm of free space is left between the furrows. Since the seeds are quite large, they are easy to evenly distribute along the furrows, maintaining a distance of about 5 cm between the plants. The planting is dug in and generously watered with warm water. Ants love erythronium seeds - the area should be protected from the invasion of harmful insects.

When sowing in winter, the seeds undergo cool stratification naturally. You can try sowing the seeds in the spring, but for this they will have to undergo stratification for 2 - 3 months in the refrigerator - in the vegetable compartment. First, the seeds are sprinkled with wet river sand or peat and placed in a plastic bag.

If winters in the region are severe and there is little snow, then the crops should be covered with non-woven material on top before frost sets in. The first small shoots will appear in the spring, as soon as the ground thaws. In the first 4 - 5 years of life, it is advisable not to transplant erythronium from place to place - you need to give it the opportunity to develop on its own. Transplanting at this time can lead to death, since the bulbs are very fragile.

In the first years, the bushes will not form buds - all their energy will go to the development of the bulb. In seedlings of the first year of life, its diameter will be about 4 cm, in the second year the diameter of the bulb can reach 7 cm. Also, small true leaf blades of a single-color green color are formed in the plants of the second year of life. In the third year, the bulb grows up to 8 cm in diameter and goes into the ground to a depth of 7 - 10 cm, and a characteristic pattern appears on the leaves. In the fourth and fifth years of life, if agricultural technology is observed, you can see the first buds on specimens obtained from seeds.

When and how to replant

Do not disturb the flower often without necessity - erythronium does not like unnecessary transplants. When grown in open ground, the bulbs can remain in one place for 4-5 years. Over time, the plantings will become crowded and the bushes will begin to experience a nutritional deficiency. Lack of nutrition will immediately affect the appearance - the plants will weaken and begin to shrink. Such nests are transplanted, having previously divided them into several parts. In no case should you transplant during flowering - the plants will suffer for a long time after it and may even die. For transplantation, it is better to choose a cloudy or even rainy day - in the sun, in warm weather, the bulbs can quickly dry out and die, since they do not have protective covering scales on the surface.

Diseases and pests

Rot may occur if the flower is planted in a flooded lowland. The affected parts of the bulb are cut off, and the cut areas are treated with a fungicide or sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Of the pests, small rodents and moles pose the greatest threat. Of the insects, mole crickets may attack.

Soil composition

Erythronium prefers well-drained soils with a high organic content and a slightly acidic pH level. Mixtures based on turf and leaf humus with the addition of peat and humus are suitable. To improve moisture permeability, river sand is mixed into the soil; do the same if the soil on the site is too heavy. 

Use in landscape design

Thanks to its early flowering, erythronium can decorate a garden while the vast majority of plants are still dormant and even when there are no leaves on the trees. The most valuable quality of representatives of this genus is also that they successfully grow on the northern side of the site. The flower looks great in rock gardens or rock gardens. Erythronium is quite hardy and unpretentious and will combine well with many other spring primroses - snowdrops, chionodoxa, pasqueflowers and other flowers.

Interesting facts

 It is believed that erythronium is a very ancient plant and the flower was widespread around the globe back in the era of the extinction of dinosaurs.

Varieties and types of erythronium:

Erythronium sibiricum

 A variety of erythronium native to southeastern Siberia. The leaves are spotted, dark purple, wide. The peduncle bears a single cyclamen-shaped flower at the top. The flowers are pink to purple, often with a distinct reddish tint, and the throat is yellow. The bushes reach a height of 30 cm. Siberian erythronium reproduces well with fresh seeds if they are sown immediately. 

Erythronium tuolumnense

 This variety is often used in hybridization and breeding of new varieties of erythronium. They are compact bulbous perennials 25 - 30 cm high. The leaf blades are uniform, glossy, dark green. During the flowering period, the plant throws out flower stalks, each of which can bear up to 10 small drooping flowers of bright yellow or shade. The flowers reach 4 cm in diameter and bloom in mid-May.

Erythronium Pagoda

One of the hybrids of erythronium tuolumnium. Plants reach a height of 30 - 35 cm. Each peduncle is capable of bearing an inflorescence at the top. consisting of 7 - 9 yellow buds. The leaves are green, sometimes with faint brownish or burgundy streaks.

Erythronium citrinum

 One of the American species that is most widespread in California. It is a low flowering plant with large and wide green leaves with light spots and streaks. The flowers are white, cream or light yellow, drooping, solitary.

Erythronium caucasicum

 The earliest spring primrose among bulbous plants and among all erythroniums. Plants have 2-3 leaf blades, colored burgundy-brown with green specks. The flowers are solitary, drooping, with long cream or white petals and a yellow center.

Erythronium dens-canis

 A spectacular flowering and decorative foliage plant with wide leaf blades painted in a burgundy or brownish tint with light green, mint-colored specks and spots on the surface. The buds are single, bell-shaped, lilac. 

Erythronium japonicum

 One of the smallest erythroniums - the height of the plant can be 15 - 25 cm. Each bush has 2 lanceolate leaf blades, painted in a single green color. Peduncles are thin, vertical, slightly curved at the tops. The flowers are lilac and resemble cyclamen in shape.

Erythronium californicum

 A bulbous perennial up to 30 cm high with wide green leaves, on the surface of which there are often whitish stains. Peduncles are erect, can bear 1 - 3 drooping flowers with cream petals. The flowers are quite large and can reach 6 - 8 cm in diameter.

Erythronium krylovii

Plants with thick, light green. often monochromatic leaves, sometimes with a slight purple tint. An interesting feature of the variety is the change in color of the buds as they bloom - only the blooming flowers are white, while as they wither, the petals can become pink and even lilac.

Erythronium sulevii

Plants found in the Altai Territory are distinguished by light green leaves covered with small light specks and large, attractive, single flowers. The buds have long, thin petals bent back. in the center the buds can be colored light, almost white, yellow or greenish, or, conversely, dark, brownish or gray.

Erythronium americanum

 A striking representative of erythroniums, reaching a height of only about 20 cm. The bushes have brownish leaves with light green, mint-colored spots. Bright yellow, single flowers with long petals contrast perfectly with the leaves.

Erythronium sajanense

 Plants with dark, brown leaves speckled with green and thin, upright flower stalks. The buds are bright, with bent back, tricolor petals - lilac with a white stripe and a yellow tint in the center. Often these plants cover vast spaces and form a continuous floral carpet.

Erythronium hendersonii

 Plants with very early flowering have oblong oval leaves with a light green base color and large, brownish spots on the surface. The flowers are drooping, with petals bent back in a white, pink or lilac hue. Each flower stalk usually contains 1 - 4 buds.

Hybrid varieties:

Erythronium White Beauty

 With age, this variety is capable of forming large grassy tussocks. The leaves are light green, glossy, with light streaks. The flowers are delicate - with white or cream petals and yellow centers. Flowering occurs in April - May.

Erythronium Kondo

 Bushes 20 - 30 cm high with large, brownish-green leaves in smooth patterns and bright yellow, wide-open buds. Each peduncle can contain up to 7 drooping flowers.