Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Erythronium grandiflorum var. grandiflorum (Glacier Lily, Dogtooth Violet)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida – Monocotyledons

Subclass Liliidae

Order Liliales

Family Liliaceae – Lily family

Genus Erythronium L. – fawnlily

Species Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh – yellow avalanche-lily

Subspecies Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh ssp. grandiflorum – yellow avalanche-lily

This is a beautiful lily native to the Western states and parts of British Columbia.

Glacier Lily adapts well in USDA zones 3-9, and will form colonies over time.

These lilies are found on slopes and in high elevation areas blooming as early as March just after the snow melts and as late as August.

The flower tepals are yellow and recurved and have either white or brown anthers depending on the location.

The leaves and stem are solid green without decorative markings and overall size depends on where they are found.

Within the Cascade Region it is not uncommon to find diminutive 6” Glacier Lilies, but east of the Cascade Mountains they can reach 1-2’.

They definitely prefer areas that receive a winter chill and good drainage. What a cheery site these early lilies are after a long winter.