Yellow Adder's Tongue Erythronium americanum

This perennial wildflower that is a corm is an early spring bloomer that goes dormant in late spring. It prefers moist, humusy soils and can grow in a variety of garden areas supporting a more acid soil. The bloom grows on a stalk, with one or more leaves at its base. Young plants often have only one leaf. A shade or partial shade garden, with available moisture and rich soil, would be a good location. It can also grow in rich woods or bottomlands.

The common names of this plant refer to the flower or leaf appearance at different phases of its growth cycle. As one example, the Trout lily name refers to its leaf mottling resembling a trout moving through water and the general shape of the petals.

This plant and its relatives in the genus Erythronium support the Andrena miner bee family, present across the U.S., that is important to the pollination of woodland and garden bulbs, berries, and flowering trees and shrubs. The scientific name of this miner bee that is attracted to this lily family is Andrena (Leucandrena) erythronii.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems.