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Erythronium americanum ssp. americanum is often confused with:
Erythronium americanum Erythronium americanum with bumblebee
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Trillium grandiflorum Flowers
Trillium luteum Flowers with mottled bracts
Viola striata Viola striata

American Trout Lily Erythronium americanum ssp. americanum

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called American Trout Lily:

Phonetic Spelling
er-ih-THROH-nee-um a-mer-ih-KAY-num a-mer-ih-KAY-num
Description

Dogtooth Violet is a native perennial wildflower in the lily family and is a spring ephemeral. Ephemerals quickly bloom and seed before the canopy trees overhead leaf out and then wither away afterward. It is native to the Eastern USA and Canada and can be found in all areas of NC in moist bottomland or forests especially over mafic rocks.

This plant is best grown from corms rather than seeds as they will bloom sooner. Grow this plant in moist, humus-rich, acidic soils in a woodland, naturalized or shade garden. It will also do well along ponds or streams.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#native perennials#shade garden#pond margins#moist soil#NC native#native wildflower#naturalized area#food source spring#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#ants#bee friendly#Audubon#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#native perennials#shade garden#pond margins#moist soil#NC native#native wildflower#naturalized area#food source spring#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#ants#bee friendly#Audubon#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Erythronium
    Species:
    americanum
    Family:
    Liliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada, mid to eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts bees and ants. Small mammals will eat the corms.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Oval seed capsules are ½ to ¾ inch length and are green, changing to brown and splitting open into three sections to expose crescent-shaped seeds from April to May.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1- 1.5 inch long solitary nodding yellow flowers with 6 recurved petals and 6 long stamens usually tipped with yellow or deep rusty red anthers. The outside of the petals may be streaked with purple or reddish-brown. Bloom from February to April.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are oval or lance-shaped and mottled with brown, reddish-brown, or purplish-brown. Flowering plants produce 2 basal leaves, 2-8 inches long and ½ to 2 inches across with smooth margins. They taper at both ends. Non-flowering plants produce 1 leaf.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Naked green stems up to 6 inches long
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Small Mammals