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Erythronium umbilicatum (Dimpled Trout Lily)

Dimpled Trout Lily, Trout Lily, Dog-Tooth Violet, Adder's Tongue, Dimpled Troutlily, Dimpled Dogtooth-Violet, Dimpled Fawn-Lily

Erythronium umbilicatum, Dimpled Trout Lily, Yellow Trout Lily, Yellow flowers, shade perennials
Erythronium umbilicatum, Dimpled Trout Lily, Yellow Trout Lily, Yellow flowers, shade perennials

Erythronium umbilicatum (Dimpled Trout Lily) is a charming perennial boasting nodding, lily-shaped, bright yellow flowers, one per stem, in early to mid-spring. Each blossom features elegantly reflexed petals, often brushed with purple on the outside, and brownish-purple anthers. They rise well above the basal foliage of elliptic leaves, softly marbled with purple and bronze. Native to the Southeastern United States, Dimpled Trout Lily occurs naturally in rich hardwood forests, along streams and low areas, and in woods of flood plains. Lovely in groups under deciduous trees, in rock gardens, or near ponds and streams where it will happily multiply. This is a spring ephemeral whose foliage disappears by late spring as the plant goes dormant.

  • Grows in clumps up to 4-10 in. tall (10-25 cm) and 4-7 in. wide (10-17 cm). This beauty naturalizes quite easily in the shade garden and will slowly spread to form large colonies.
  • Easily grown in humus-rich, acidic, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Needs moist soil, even when dormant, do not let the soil dry out!
  • Stunning in shade gardens, rock gardens, underplanting shrubs or roses, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or near ponds and streams. Because it goes dormant after blooming, interplant with late emerging perennials to fill in the open space (bleeding heart, columbine and hostas).
  • Virtually disease free. Watch for slugs.
  • To be planted in fall. Resent transplanting, therefore make sure you find the right home for this plant.
  • Native to the Southeastern United States, primarily in the Piedmont and Southern Appalachian areas.
  • Discover 50 North Carolina wildflowers for your garden

Trout Lily (Erythronium): How to Grow and Care with Success


A member of the Lily family, Erythronium (Dog Tooth Violet) are charming bulbous perennials grown for their nodding, lily-shaped flowers adorned with gracefully reflexed petals in spring. Easy to grow, they are lovely in groups under deciduous trees where they will happily multiply. However, some basic rules need to be followed to enjoy their splendid flowers.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Erythronium
Common names Trout Lily
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Height 4" - 10" (10cm - 25cm)
Spread 4" - 7" (10cm - 18cm)
Spacing 4" - 7" (10cm - 18cm)
Depth 2" - 3" (5cm - 8cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Northeast, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Full Shade
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Erythronium oregonum (Oregon Fawn Lily)
Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily)
Erythronium americanum (Yellow Trout Lily)
Erythronium dens-canis ‘Snowflake’ (Dog’s Tooth Violet)
Erythronium japonicum (Asian Fawn Lily)
Erythronium dens-canis ‘Japonicum’ (Dog’s Tooth Violet)

Recommended Companion Plants

Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Helleborus (Hellebore)
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)

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Erythronium (Trout Lily)
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Trout Lily (Erythronium): How to Grow and Care with Success
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Liliaceae
Genus Erythronium
Common names Trout Lily
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Height 4" - 10" (10cm - 25cm)
Spread 4" - 7" (10cm - 18cm)
Spacing 4" - 7" (10cm - 18cm)
Depth 2" - 3" (5cm - 8cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Northeast, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Full Shade
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Erythronium (Trout Lily)
Not sure which Erythronium (Trout Lily) to pick?
Compare Now

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