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Erythronium americanum

Native Plants

Yellow Trout Lily

3 Photos


Summary

Yellow trout lily is among the earliest flowers to bloom and is spectacular when flowering in large masses. From a bulb in early April, the solitary stem and blossom of this 4-5” tall plant emerges from double basal leaves that are attractively mottled giving the speckled appearance of trout. This spring ephemeral thrives in moist, rich soil and spreads quickly to form sizable colonies where the attractive leaves greatly outnumber the flowers. A must-have for the early spring garden, especially in moist well-drained situations, Erythronium americanum has many suitable garden companions including Dicentra cucullaria, Trillium pusillum, Mertensia virginica, Claytonia virginica, and Cardamine concatenata.


More Details

  • Plant Type
    bulbcorm 
  • Sun/Shade Conditions
    partial-shade, shade 
  • Foliage Character
    deciduous 
  • Soil Moisture
    average, moist 
  • Flowering Period
    early-spring, mid-spring
  • Soil PH
    acidic, adaptable 
  • Flower Color
    yellow 
  • Summer Foliage Color
    green 
  • Fall Foliage Color
    dormant 
  • Other Common Names
    dogtooth violet 
  • Fruit/Seed Color
    not-showy, tan