Bloomipedia
Avalanche lily (Erythronium montanum)
Photo: Cindy Bell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Avalanche lily

Erythronium montanum

Native to Washington

Avalanche lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Washington it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

2states
2,849WA sightings*
3,231U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Washington

Quick look

Erythronium montanum, the avalanche lily or white avalanche lily, is a member of the lily family native to coastal British Columbia and the alpine and subalpine Olympic and Cascade Ranges of the Pacific Northwest of Washington and Oregon.

  • It belongs to the Liliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,849 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #63 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist

Avalanche lily gift ideas

Handmade avalanche lily gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Washington, most flowering sightings come in June–August.

Flowering records by month in Washington (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (927 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records avalanche lily in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Oregon, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pierce, Skamania, Whatcom, Yakima.

More Washington flowers

Checker lily (Fritillaria affinis)

Checker lily

Fritillaria affinis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: April–June
Glacier lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)

Glacier lily

Erythronium grandiflorum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–July
Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum)

Columbia lily

Lilium columbianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August

Sources