Erythronium

( ehr - ith - ROH - nee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials grow from bulbs or corms and need light shade and regular waterings during growth and bloom periods. Commonly known as Fawn Lily, Trout Lily, Dog's-Tooth Violet or Adder's Tongue, they flower in spring, producing dainty blooms on usually no more than 1 foot tall stems. They really make a statement when grown in mass under deciduous trees and in rock gardens, where their flowers are on display from the middle of spring to the beginning of summertime. Although individuals are small, these plants have the tendency to form large colonies that eventually blanket the landscape; they make a great groundcover for wooded, undisturbed areas of the garden. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as there is some evidence that they are toxic to poultry.

Erythronium Species and Varietals

The genus Erythronium is a member of the plant family Lilliaceae and includes between 20 and 30 species. The best growing zones for Erythronium vary by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Erythronium albidum (White Fawnlily, White Trout Lily, Yellow Snowdrop, Dogtooth Violet, White Dogtooth-Violet, Adder's Tongue)
These plants form extensive colonies in woodland areas that are undisturbed; they do not do well in compacted soil conditions. Flowers are white, closing at night and reopening the next morning. The species is native to an area that spans from southern Ontario, Canada south to eastern Texas. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.

Erythronium americanum (Yellow Trout Lily, Yellow Adder's-Tongue, Yellow Dogtooth Violet, American Trout Lily, Adder's Tongue, Yellow Fawn Lily)
This species is native to North America's woodland areas and has grey-green leaves mottled with brown to maroon markings. Flowers are yellow and bloom in springtime. Yellow Trout Lily is suited for USDA hardiness zones 3-9.

Fun Fact: Erythronium plants are sometimes called Trout Lilies because the patterning on their leaves resembles the skin mottling in some species of trout, including the Lake Trout (pictured).

Erythronium californicum (California Fawn Lily, California Trout Lily)
These plants are native to Northern California and grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-7 and 14-17. Leaves are green with brown markings, and flowers are creamy white with a yellow center ring. Blooming stems are 6-10 inches tall. A popular variety is 'White Beauty', which has white flowers with rusty orange marks at the petal bases, and is a vigorous grower that spreads by offsets.

Erythronium caucasicum (Caucasian Dog's Tooth Violet)
This species is native to the central Caucasus and the Alboraz Mountains in northern Iran. Foliage has markings and produces white to yellow (or a combination of the two) flowers with yellow anthers. Flowering stems are orange to pinkish-red in color. These flowers are suited for USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Erythronium citrinum (Citrus Fawn Lily, Cream Fawn Lily, Lemon-Colored Fawn Lily, Pale Fawn Lily)
Endemic to the Klamath Mountains in Oregon and California, this species of Fawn Lily grows on shrubby slopes and open woodland areas. Flowering occurs in early springtime, and blooms are cream-white with yellow centers. Leaves are green, mottled with brown to maroon markings.

Erythronium dens-canis (Dog-Tooth Violet)
This plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-7 and 15-17 and is native to central and southern areas of Europe. Leaves are variegated with brown. Deep pink to purple flowers are held on 6-12 inch stems, and varieties are offered with blooms in white, pink, rose, or violet, some marked with darker colors.

Erythronium elegans (Coast Range Fawnlily, Eleant Fawnlily)
Endemic to Oregon's coastal mountain range, this plant produces foliage with brown or whitish mottling and pink-tinged white flowers. Blooming is most profuse between the months of May and June. These flowers do not grow well in cultivation. Coast Range Fawnlily is suited for USDA hardiness zones 4-9.

Erythronium grandiflorum (Yellow Avalanche Lily, Glacier Lily. Dogtooth Fawn Lily, Maxa)
Each plant in this species produces two green leaves with wavy edges and between one and three showy yellow flowers. There are a few subspecies with flower colors that range from yellow to cream-colored/white. These plants are suited for USDA hardiness zones 3-9.

Erythronium helenae (Pacific Fawn Lily, St. Helena Fawn Lily)
This species is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area's northern coastal mountains and produces green leaves mottled with brown/maroon to white markings. Flowers are white with yellow towards the center, and develop pink to purple hues as they age. Best in USDA hardiness zones 4a-9b or Sunset growing zones 6, 7, and 14-17.

Erythronium hendersonii (Henderson's Fawn Lily)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-7 and 15-17 and is native to Northern California and southern Oregon. Stems are 12 inches tall and hold lavender flowers that are a dark maroon color at the base and edged with yellow or white. Petals curl back at the tips. Leaves are dark green with brown markings.

Erythronium japonicum (Asian Fawn Lily, Oriental Fawn Lily, Japanese Fawn Lily, Trout Lily)
This species of Trout Lily is native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East and northeastern China. These flowers bloom in April through June in their native range, and produce pink flowers with deep red to maroon markings towards their centers. Asian Fawn Lily grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Erythronium mesochoreum (Paririe Fawn Lily, Midland Fawnlily)
This species is native to Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Flowers are white with a bluish-purple tint. Scapes bear singular flowers. These are popular additions to wildflower gardens in their native range, and have shown some promise when grown in relatively dry soils. Best in USDA zones 4-8.

Erythronium multiscapideum (Sierra Fawn Lily)
This species of Fawn Lily is endemic to northern and central California, namely Shasta County through Amador and Mariposa counties. Leaves are green, typically mottled with maroon-brown to white markings. Flowers are white and petals have bright yellow bases. These plants are suited for USDA hardiness zones 4-9.

Erythronium oregonum (Giant White Fawn Lily, Oregon Fawn-Lily)
This species is native to the Pacific Coast Ranges from British Colombia down through northern California. These wildflowers produce white flowers with yellow centers, sometimes with dull reddish streaking towards petal bases. Thin flowering stalks can reach up to 16 inches tall. Best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.

Erythronium pluriflorum (Manyflower Fawn Lily, Golden Fawn-Lily, Shuteye Peak Fawn Lily)
These wildflowers can reach up to a foot tall when in bloom, and produce flower stalks that bear between one and ten flowers each. Flowers are bright yellow and have curled tepals. This rare species is endemic to California's eastern Madera County.

Erythronium propullans (Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily, Minnesota Adder's Tongue, Minnesota Fawn Lily)
This critically-imperiled species is native to Minnesota's northern watersheds, and produces white flowers that have a pink tint to them. These plants prefer to grow in woodland settings, and was first discovered by schoolteacher Mary Hodges in Faribault, Minnesota.

Erythronium purpurascens (Purple Fawn Lily, Sierra Nevada Fawn Lily)
This species is endemic to California, where it grows in high mountainous areas from Siskiyou County down through Mendocino County. Flowering stalks hold between 1 and 6 flowers that have white petals which fade to yellow towards the center of the bloom. As flowers age, they take on pink and purple hues, lasting until the last snow melt of the year has passed.

Erythronium pusaterii (Kaweah Lakes Fawnlily, Hocket Lakes Fawn Lily)
Endemic to Tulare County in California, this species is named for professor Samuel J. Pusateri (College of the Sequoias), the collector of the original specimen. Flowers are white with yellow centers, and stems reach about 16 inches tall when in bloom. This species is suited for growing in USDA hardiness zones 7a-9b.

Erythronium quinaultense (Quinault Fawn Lily)
This rare species of Fawn Lily is native to the area around Lake Quinault in Washington. Leaves are green and glossy, sometimes with somewhat wavy edges, and flowers are white with yellow and pink bands perpendicular to the veining.

Erythronium revolutum (Mahogany Fawn Lily, Coast Fawn Lily, Pink Fawn Lily)
These grow in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 1-7 and 14-17 and are native to the West. Flower stems grow up to 16 inches tall and hold pink flowers marked with yellow. Variety 'Pink Beauty' has unmarked pink flowers. This species is native to western North America, from northern California up through British Colombia.

Erythronium taylorii (Pilot Ridge Fawn Lily, Taylor's Fawnlily, Yosemite Fawn Lily)
Endemic to Tuolumne County in Northern California, this species of Fawn Lily produces white flowers with bright yellow petal bases. This is a critically imperiled species, and they prefer to grow on shaded, north-facing slopes.

Erythronium tuolumnense (Tuolumne Fawn Lily, Tuolumne's Dog's Tooth Violet)
These rare, endangered California natives are robust growers, and do best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 2-7 and 14-17. Leaves are solid green and flowers are golden yellow with greenish bases held on 12-15 inch tall stems. Variety 'Rondo' is an especially vigorous grower, and 'Pagoda' is another choice garden cultivar.

Caring for Erythronium

Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as there is some evidence that they are toxic to poultry. Erythronium, or Trout Lilies, do well in woodland or shaded gardens, and are popular under-shrub plantings. Plant your Trout Lilies in a space in the garden that gets partial or dappled shade. Bulbs should be planted in rich, porous soil in fall. Do not let the bulbs dry out before planting them. They should be spaced 2-3 inches deep and 4-5 inches apart for best coverage, planted vertically in the soil with the pointed end upwards. They prefer well-draining soil that is kept relatively moist at all times. Substrate should be fertile and have a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Chamomile regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity, Trout Lilies appreciate moisture in the soil around their roots. Never let the soil dry out, especially during the warmer, drier months of the year. Species that are native to the West do not need supplemental water while in their dormant stages, but species such as Erythronium dens-canis should receive moisture year-round.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. After blooms fade, flowering stems and be removed from the plant using clean, sharpened shears. Leaves should be left on these plants until they fade in late spring or early summertime, as this is how energy is produced for storage in the underground bulb. These plants will spread over time, colonizing open areas under trees. Divide clumps only when vigor and bloom quality are suffering. For instructions on how to divide Trout Lily plants, see the propagation section below. These flowers can survive for 12 to 15 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced, but will also naturalize in shaded or woodland habitats, providing ornamental and habitat value indefinitely.

Propagation

Erythronium, or Trout Lily, can be propagated either by dividing existing plants or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, and that Trout Lilies grown from seed may not begin producing flowers until they are about five years old. To propagate your Trout Lilies, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Erythronium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination can take up to 4 months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Erythronium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the bulb(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one full round bulb.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided bulb(s) about 2-3 inches under the soil surface with the growing tip pointing upwards and water thoroughly. The best spacing for these bulbs is 4-5 inches.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Erythronium seeds are contained inside of the receptacles left behind after flowers have faded. They will typically dry out and turn brown when seeds are mature.