WILD MOUNTAIN FARMS
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  • Wildflowers of Western Montana
    • Arnica
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Glacier Lily

Also called: Yellow Avalanche-lily
Erythronium grandiflorum
Perenial Herb

Often the first flower to appear in the spring, this lily grows in meadows in the high country, along hillsides and is often on the edge of the snow melt. It can be found in the western United states and Canada from BC to New Mexico.
​
DESCRIPTION:

Flower
The flower is lemon-yellow appears at the end of a stem that is 6 - 12 inches tall. The petals are six in number and flow backwards like a shooting star. The inside of the flower head consists of white, red or yellow stamens which shoot forward. One to three flowers hangs at the end of each stalk.
Picture
Picture
WHOLE PLANT:

Stem and Leaves
The stem is singular and woody, growing straight out of a double pair of leaves at ground height. Those leaves are lance like and green and can reach as tall as the flower. The leaves and seedpods are both edible, though some say the flavor is not great.

Root
The roots are called Corms and are rich in dietary fiber and starch. They are a favorite food of black bears and grizzlies as well as elk and big horn sheep, and they can be eaten by humans as well, raw or cooked.
Picture
Picture
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Hillsides or mountain meadows at high elevations, often appearing at the edge of the snow melt.

WHEN TO FIND IT:
As the snow melts in the spring at higher elevations.

MEDICINAL AND EDIBLE PROPERTIES:
  • Glacier Lilies are edible in limited quantities, though they don't always taste great. You can eat the leaves, flowers, seed pods or roots. The roots can be boiled or eaten raw and are very nutritious. They are a favorite of dear, elk, bear and mountain goats and they were a stand by for many native people during the winter months.
  • Native people used to use the plant for reducing fever, swelling and infection, as well as as a contraceptive.


return to full list of wildflowers of western montana
Exert from Christie's book, Meanwhile, I Keep Dancing, published November 2024:

Life is hard.
 
Spring was starting to show its face, even at the ranch, which sits at a high elevation where winter holds on long and hard. Snow and ice were finally melting and the horses were beginning to shed their winter coats. As Dave and I drove home from town I watched eagerly out the window to see if any of the early wildflowers had appeared yet. “Oh look!” I cried at the bright yellow bells I finally caught sight of. “It's…” my mind blanked on the words, as it had been doing increasingly these days. 
 
“Glacier Lilies.” Dave supplied. 
 
I looked at him in surprise, a smile creeping across my face. “How did you know that?” I asked, “You don’t care about wildflowers.”
 
He glanced at me before turning back to the road. “No,” he said, “But I care about you. And you wait for them every year and you’re always happy when you finally see them. So of course I know their names.” And just like that life doesn’t seem so hard anymore.

Location

raising rocky mountain horses
​for every rider

Because when the mountains are wild,
the horse shouldn't be!

Wild Mountain Farms
PO Box 209
Frenchtown, MT  59834
[email protected]
Christie and Dave Goodman

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  • WildMountainFarms
  • Wildflowers of Western Montana
    • Arnica
    • Arrowleaf Balsamroot
    • Bear Grass
    • Bee Balm
    • Blanket Flower
    • Bluebell
    • Blue Clematis
    • Blue Eyed Mary
    • Biscutroot
    • Bitterroot
    • Buttercup, Sagebrush
    • Buttercup, Common
    • Cinquefoil
    • Clover
    • Deptford Pink
    • Fireweed
    • Fleabane
    • Glacier Lily
    • GoldenRagwort
    • Goldenrod
    • Harebell
    • Indian Paintbrush
    • Kinickinick
    • Lady's Slipper
    • Larkspur
    • Lupine
    • Mouseeared Chickweed
    • Oregon Grape
    • Oxeye Daisy
    • Pasque Flower
    • Penstemon
    • Prarie Smoke
    • Round Leaf Alumroot
    • Salsify
    • Shooting Star
    • Tansy
    • Thimbleberry
    • Thistle
    • Trillium
    • Vetch
    • Wild Geranium
    • Wild Hyacinth
    • Wild Mustard
    • Wild Onion
    • Wild Rose
    • Wild Strawberry
    • Wild Sunflower
    • Wild Violet
    • Wild Campion
    • Woodland Star
    • Yarrow
    • Plant ID Books I Like
  • Kittens
  • About Us
    • Christie
    • Christie's Writing
    • Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
    • Dave
  • Education
    • About the Rocky Mountain Horse >
      • History of the Rocky Mountain Horse Breed
      • Other Mountain Horse Breeds
      • What They Look Like
      • Temperament of the Rocky Mountain Horse
      • What They Do
      • Where to Find a Rocky Mountain Horse
      • Cost of a Rocky Mountain Horse
      • Genetic Testing
    • Breeding Education >
      • Deciding to Breed
      • Choosing a stallion
      • Getting Started
      • Breeding Costs
      • Breeding Basics >
        • Timing Details
      • AI vs Live Cover
      • Pre-Breeding Preparation
      • Breeding Contract
      • Live Foal Guarantee
    • Basic Genetics >
      • Basic Genetics Expanded
    • Color Genetics >
      • Horse Color Genetics >
        • Basic Color Genes
        • Special Color Genes >
          • Special Color Details
        • The Colors >
          • Red
          • Bay
          • Black
          • White
          • Gray
          • Chocolate
          • Cream Gene Colors >
            • Palomino
            • Buckskin
            • Black Buckskin
            • Cremello
            • Perlino
            • Smokey Cream
          • Champagne
          • Paint
          • Roan
          • Appaloosa Horses
    • Raising a Foal Right
    • Transporting Horses Long Distance >
      • Transport Paperwork
      • Transport Equiptment (Big)
      • Transport Equiptment (Small)
      • Feed and Water For Transporting
      • Driving Practices for Transporting
      • Transport Tips
  • Our Horses
    • Lady
  • Our Animal Partners
  • Our Human Partners
  • Contact Us
  • Western Montana Riding Trails
  • The Pacific Crest Trail
    • Who We Are >
      • Why and What
      • Christie
      • Kaladin
      • The Horses
      • Riding Companions
      • Local Resources
      • Home Team
    • Strategy and Goals
    • PCT Basics
    • PCT Water
    • PCT Safety
    • PCT Timing
    • PCT Maps
    • PCT Permits
    • PCT Resources
    • PCT Contacts
    • PCT Gear >
      • backpacking gear List >
        • Shelter >
          • Tents
        • Sleeping Bag
        • Sleeping Pad
        • Camp Chair
        • Water Purifier
        • Water Reservoir
        • Kitchen Gear
      • horse packing gear
      • dog packing gear
      • safety gear
      • photography gear
      • packing organization
  • AirBnB Cabin
  • Goats
    • Goat Enclosures
    • Feeding Goats >
      • Feeding Dwarf Goats >
        • Dwarf Goat Hay
  • Horsepacking
    • How Many Horses
  • Sheep
  • Contact Info
  • Trial Page
  • New Page