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(Erythronium americanum)
Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
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Liz Smith
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Liz Smith
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Liz Smith | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Liz Smith | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2017-05-07T14:41:56-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Erythronium americanum, commonly known as Yellow Trout Lily, is a deciduous perennial herb native to rich, moist deciduous forests and floodplains in the Central and Eastern USA and Eastern Canada. It typically grows 6-12 inches tall and wide, with a distinctive mottled leaf pattern that resembles the markings of a trout, hence the common name. The nodding, bisexual flowers feature 6 recurved, yellow, lanceolate tepals, each 20 to 33 mm long, composed of 3 petals and 3 petal-like sepals. The flowers, which are quite showy despite their rarity within colonies, bloom in early spring before the canopy trees leaf out, taking advantage of full sunlight and abundant soil nutrients. The plant does not flower for the first 4 to 7 years of its life, and in any given colony, only about 0.5% will have flowers. The flowers close at night to protect their reproductive parts.
Yellow Trout Lily is valued for its unique foliage and early spring flowers, which can add interest to woodland gardens and naturalized areas. It is often used as a ground cover in shady spots and is appreciated for its low maintenance requirements once established. It prefers part shade to full shade, consistent medium moisture, and well-drained soils rich in organic matter. While it is not prone to serious pest or disease problems, it can be slow to establish and spread. Gardeners should be patient with its growth and flowering habits.CC BY-SA 4.0
Yellow Trout Lily is valued for its unique foliage and early spring flowers, which can add interest to woodland gardens and naturalized areas. It is often used as a ground cover in shady spots and is appreciated for its low maintenance requirements once established. It prefers part shade to full shade, consistent medium moisture, and well-drained soils rich in organic matter. While it is not prone to serious pest or disease problems, it can be slow to establish and spread. Gardeners should be patient with its growth and flowering habits.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.3-0.5 feet
- Width: 0.3-0.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption.
Natural Habitat
native to rich, moist deciduous forests and floodplains in the Central and Eastern USA and Eastern Canada
Other Names
Common Names: Yellow Trout-Lily, Amberbell, Yellow Adder’s-Tongue, Fish Hooks, Lamb’s Tongue, Serpent’s Tongue, Yellow Snowdrop, American Trout Lily, Yellow Dogtooth Violet, Érythrone D’Amérique
Scientific Names: , Erythronium americanum, Erythronium americanum f. americanum, Erythronium flavum,
GBIF Accepted Name: Erythronium americanum Ker Gawl.