Erythronium

Popular names: Dog's-tooth violet, Trout lily and Adder's-tongue

Flower colour: yellow, white and pink

Flowering period: April-May

Average plant height: 30 cm

Planting depth to base of bulb:10 cm

Spacing between bulbs: 15 cm

Type of bulb: tuberous roots

Light requirements: full or partial shade

Landscape uses: under trees and shrubs, well-drained rock gardens, and perennial beds

Of the approximately 16 species, no fewer than 15 are native to North America. Only one species, Erythronium dens-canis, grows in Europe as well as in Asia (as far east as Japan). This is the species known as Dog's-tooth violet because of the shape of its tubers. The natural habitat for this species is a woody mountainous region. They are not easy to cultivate.

Plant the small tubers as soon as you acquire them because they dry out quickly. Having a nutrient-rich, moisture-retentive soil is important. Experience has shown that the plants can remain planted in the same location for many years where they can spread and produce increasingly more flowers. A layer of mulch during a dry summer can work wonders by preventing the plants from drying out.

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Erythronium