About Erythronium hendersonii S.Watson
Erythronium hendersonii S.Watson produces a pair of mottled leaves. Its scape can hold up to eleven flowers, though 1 to 4 flowers is more common. Flower color is distinct among all Erythronium species native to western North America. Its recurved tepals range in color from deep velvety purple to lavender. The base of each tepal is dark purple, edged with a wash of white or yellow. The stigma ranges from unlobed to shortly three-lobed, and the anthers are purple to brown. This species is named for Louis F. Henderson, who is known as "The Grand Old Man of Northwest Botany". In the southern portion of its range, this species blooms early, starting in February. By March, many locations host thousands of E. hendersonii that form carpets across the landscape, where the species often blooms alongside Dodecatheon hendersonii. At higher elevations, it continues blooming through May. It grows most abundantly in dry, open woodlands dominated by Ponderosa pine, Garry oak, and madrone. In the United Kingdom, Erythronium hendersonii has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
