Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is a spring ephemeral, one of those woodland wildflowers that emerge and bloom before trees leaf out. Its simple but attractive leaves are light green, mottled with brownish purple spots. (The name “trout lily” comes from the leaves’ resemblance to the speckled sides of brook trout.) It dies back by late spring. The striking yellow flowers nod at the ends of slender stalks, displaying six reflexed petals as they open. Yellow trout lily grows from a small bulb that sends out stolons, eventually forming a dense colony.
Common name: Yellow trout lily, American trout lily, dogtooth violet, yellow adder’s tongue
Botanical name: Erythronium americanum
Plant type: perennial bulb
Zones: 3 to 8
Height: 3 to 6 inches
• Sun: Full sun in early spring (under deciduous trees)
• Soil: Fertile, loamy woodland soil
• Moisture: Evenly moist but not soggy
• Mulch: A light layer of fallen leaves in autumn
• Pruning: None needed.
• Fertilizer: None needed.
• Dig and divide clumps of plants.
Pests and diseases
• Plants with two leaves bear flowers, while single-leafed plants do not. In large colonies the nonflowering plants outnumber flowering plants.
• Trout lily bulbs are short-lived when out of the ground. Nursery catalogs emphasize the importance of planting these bulbs immediately when you receive them—so do it!
All in the family
• Yellow trout lily is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae). This family once included nearly 80 genera, but in recent years taxonomists have reclassified many of those genera, leaving only 27 in the Liliaceae.
• Other family members include lilies (Lilium spp.), tulips (Tulipa spp.), and fritillaries (Fritillaria).
Where to buy
• Eastern Plant Specialties, Rahway, NJ, 207-504-4405, www.easternplant.com
• Quick Growing Trees Nursery, Altamont, TN, 931-692-4252, www.quick-growing-trees.com