Erythronium citrinum grows in open woods and shrubby slopes, and is more or less confined to serpentine soils.

The flowers of Erythronium citrinum are borne on stems that are six to eight inches tall.

The flower of cream fawn lily is creamy-white with a yellow center.

The very similar E. howellii is more restricted in its range and can be distinguished by its lacking of nectariferous appendages on the bases of the inner petals.

E. hendersonii, which has a distribution that ends just at the northern boundary of the cream fawn lily, is fairly similar, but is easily distinguished by its purple flowers.