Bloomipedia
Glacier lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)
Photo: John Clonce via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Glacier lily

Erythronium grandiflorum

Glacier lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) is a flowering plant in the Liliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Glacier lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

9states where USDA records it
5Bloomipedia state lists include it
12,060U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Erythronium grandiflorum is a North American species of plants in the lily family. It is known by several common names, including yellow avalanche lily, glacier lily, and dogtooth fawn lily. The Ktunaxa name for glacier lily is maxa.

  • 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 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Montana, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,122 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #56 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,159 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #3 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,841 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #16 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,945 records)
Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–July3,122
MontanaNativeMay–July2,159
UtahNativeMarch–June1,841
IdahoNativeApril–June1,297
WyomingNativeMay–July768

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 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.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Idaho.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
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 glacier lily in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Lake, Madison, Missoula, Park, Powell, Teton.

Utah counties with USDA records: Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Weber.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 134 counties across 9 states; the most are in Washington (26), Idaho (25), Oregon (25).

Other Erythronium on Bloomipedia (6): Yellow trout lily, White fawnlily, Giant white fawn lily, Dimpled trout lily, Avalanche lily, Beaked trout-lily.

More from the Liliaceae family (32 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Cucumber root, Bluebead lily, Checker lily, White globe lily, Yellow mariposa lily, Tolmie's pussy ears, Columbia lily, Hooker's fairybells.

More Washington flowers

Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum)

Columbia lily

Lilium columbianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–July
Bride's bonnet (Clintonia uniflora)

Bride's bonnet

Clintonia uniflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–July
Avalanche lily (Erythronium montanum)

Avalanche lily

Erythronium montanum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–July

Sources