Erythronium californicum 'White Beauty'

Dog Tooth Violet Liliaceae

Quite possibly the best-known of the white-flowered Erythroniums, and deservedly so. ‘White Beauty’ produces handsome basal leaves, softly marbled in green and silver, above which slender stems carry up to three nodding, creamy-white flowers. The sharply reflexed tepals surround a conspicuous cluster of white stamens, while the throat is delicately marked with yellow and reddish-brown zig-zag markings—a little botanical embroidery to prevent things becoming too polite. 

Despite being repeatedly sold under E. revolutum and occasionally E. oregonum, the best evidence places ‘White Beauty’ with E. californicum. Ian Young found no morphological indication of another species being involved, although Erythronium is promiscuous and some hybrid ancestry cannot be completely excluded without genetic investigation. 

The selection was introduced by Californian nurseryman Carl Purdy, who selected it from wild-collected material. It is notably vigorous, clumping readily and also producing seed. 

An excellent woodland bulb for humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in light shade, where it can naturalise happily if left undisturbed. RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Height: 20–30cm
Spread: 20–30cm
Flowering: March–April
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Aspect: Light to partial shade
Soil: Humus-rich, moist but well drained
Foliage: Deciduous