Trout lily (Dogtooth violet)

Erythronium americanum

Diminutive eastern North American spring ephemeral with mottled leaves and nodding pale yellow flowers, reflexing back like miniature turkscap lilies.

Hardiness ratings

Trout lily (Dogtooth violet) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −40 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–7 −34 °C to −7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–3 −15 °C to 0 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers April–May before the deciduous canopy closes, dies back by early summer
  • Leaves are spotted brown and green, suggesting the markings of a brook trout
  • Vegetative offsets form large colonies over decades — patience required, individual plants take 7+ years from seed to first flower
  • Site under deciduous trees in deep leaf-mould

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Trout lily (Dogtooth violet) against your zones

Reference

Trout lily (Dogtooth violet) on Wikipedia