Asian fawnlily is a pink-purple trout lily from Japan, Korea, northeast China, and the Russian Far East; it does not grow wild in the US. Like the trout lilies of American woods, it pops up in early spring, blooms, and disappears underground within weeks. Its bulb was the original source of katakuriko, the Japanese cooking starch now made from potatoes.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A that grows from a slender bulb up to about 2.4 in (6 cm) long. Stems reach about 8 in (20 cm).
- Leaves
- Usually two broad leaves, often mottled, though the pattern varies a lot.
- Flowers
- A single nodding, rose-purple flower with six swept-back petals. Flowers open on sunny days and close in the evening.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Deciduous woodlands
- Range
- Native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East (Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands), and northeastern China. Not native to North America.
Life cycle
- Seed dispersal
- Seeds carry a small fatty appendage that ants carry off, spreading the plant.
Growing it
- Propagation
- Plants grown from seed take 7–9 years to bloom for the first time.
Conservation
- Conservation
- Wild colonies have been dug up by collectors, and many Japanese prefectures list it on their red lists.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In Japan, many towns and villages have chosen it as their official flower.
More species to explore
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