One for the pot ? I think not !

Some old wire hanging baskets have come in handy over the last few weeks ! I've been trying to protect some of my favoured plants from nibbling rabbits and pecking pheasants ! The young lush leaves of Erythroniums have been emerging providing tempting grazing, so too the spectacular flowers if they survive. The defences are up and thankfully, so are the plants - success !

Erythronium are essentially a plant  of deciduous woodland and among the elite in the bulb world. Common names you may come across are Fawn Lily, Trout Lily, Adder's Tongue or Dog's Tooth Violet ! I didn't realise that the bulb and leaves are listed as edible ! As a vegetable the bulb can be cooked or dried and ground into a flour. To be honest I would prefer to enjoy them in my garden rather than on a plate !

The very showiest hail from the western states of North America. California boasts many species including E. californicum ' White Beauty ' a real stunner ! Introduced towards the end of the nineteenth century by nurseryman Carl Purdy, the recurved flowers are pure white, with an inner throat of reddish-brown markings, the leaves are lavishly marbled. This one and more hold an Award of Garden Merit given to plants which are easy to propagate, resistant to disease and least prone to damage from frost.

From the foot hills of Sierra Nevada comes another winner, E. tuolumnense, a fast mover, displaying a shower of golden yellow flowers with elegant stems standing tall of bright green leaves. One of it's hybrids ' Pagoda ' is now widely available. Very dependable, she has provided me with many off-sets, a good one to start off with.

Pink flower strains in the form of E. hendersonii and E. revolutum can be found in the region of southern Oregon right down to the coastal redwoods of California.

I introduced E. revolutum ' Johnsonii ' into the garden a few years ago, totally stunning and falls into the category of plants " I must have it " ! I think you will agree - the broad flowers are an eye-catching pink, with throats dusted yellow, below lie deep-green leaves traced with purple markings which move to a rich earthy brown.

Closer to home, our European dog's-tooth is a splendid plant offering pleasurable viewing. E. denscanis is easy, providing you can offer dappled shade. Too much shade causes the plant to make clumps of leaves, attractive in themselves with flat leathery distinctive colour variations, but the flowers are a 

must !

Give Erythroniums the right conditions and you will not be disappointed - deciduous woodland or lightly shaded shrubbery, with plenty of moist but well-drained soil during their growing season is ideal. During their dormant time throughout the summer months the trees are in leaf and provide the dry soil conditions which protect the bulbs from heat. The soil can benefit from occasional top-ups of leaf-mould or well-rotted compost.

The bulbs are quite extraordinary in that they really do resemble a dog's tooth - plant bulbs in the autumn, at a depth of at least 8cm. Once planted leave them undisturbed to become well established and divide plants perhaps every three to four years, during the autumn. Having made divisions don't let the bulbs dry out, replant as as you can. Generally they will be trouble-free, although snails and the odd rabbit or pheasant might like to try their luck !

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