Fringed Corn Lilies, Veratrum fimbriatum, are rare, growing in shaded, moist areas on the Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts. The plant's leaves are quite beautiful when they emerge in the spring. Fringed Corn Lilies are beginning to bloom as we head for the first day of autumn. The leaves now show wear and tear, but the beautiful blossom rises above it all.
I have two pictures of the blossom to share with you. First John Sperry's photo, showing the fresh blossom and the riddled leaves.
And next is Nan Brichetto's close-up photo of the blossom.
And if you'd like to see the leaves as they looked this spring, you can click on this link to an April posting here on Mendonoma Sightings! http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/08/fringed-corn-lily-leaves-a-rare-mendonoma-plant/
Frank Drouillard
We saw the blooms just starting about 10 days ago. Unfortunately, like last year, they appear to have some black blight on the blooms.
Jeanne Jackson
Do you have any information on the blight, Frank? These plants are so rare I can't find any reference to a blight. Aphids could be the culprits, perhaps. I will ask John Sperry to see if the Fringed Corn Lilies in the Timber Cove area have blight this year. And maybe it is just that we've had so much fog this summer. The leaves, tho, we're particularly handsome this year.