Trout lily

State Nature Preserves and natural areas contain remnants of Ohio’s pre-settlement past, rare and endangered species, scenic streams, and wondrous geologic features.

We’ve assembled a nice collection of US native trout lilies, but unfortunately they don’t adapt well to typical nursery production. We are experimenting with digging these spring ephemerals while they are in flower and shipping them at that time. Here is one that was a start this spring that hopefully we’ll be able to share

Trout lily

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a spring ephemeral that grows in rich floodplains. They rise from a deep bulb and can take up to seven years before a plant produces a flower. During this time the bulb is storing energy absorbed by its pair of leaves on the surface. The bulb also has a tendency to send out offshoots, enabling the plant to further colonize an area. The flowers are very phototropic, following the sun throughout the day before closing in the evening. Ants are major…

The yellow (Erythronium americanum) and white (E. albidum) trout lilies are synonymous with early spring ephemeral woodland wildflowers. These small (4 - 6" tall) members of the lily family can put on quite a show when a cluster of them in the garden is in full flower. These lilies take seven years to mature and when mature have two mottled basal leaves. The flowers have six tepals (three sepals and three petals) and open during the day (to the extent that they are recurved when fully open)…

Trout Lily - Erythronium americanum - circa 1926

erythronium americanum

White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum)

Trout lily

The first of the Trout Lilies has bloomed! Each spring, the forest floor is covered with them. Its leaves resemble a trout in a stream, and its blooms are dainty yellow nodding flowers. This wildflower is an ephemeral, which means after it blooms in early spring, it goes dormant until next spring. They are edible and, I hear, delicious for spring salads. They’re also used for many medicinal purposes. When the Victorians thought of them (they had a symbol for every flower), they thought o...

another native woodland ephemeral.

Trout Lily

yellow trout lilly - Erythronium americanum - Found along the trail at Red River Outdoors in Slade, KY http://redriveroutdoors.com/gallery

blogged: winterwoman.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/trout-lily/

These lovely little wildflowers, commonly called "trout lilies" (erythronium americanum) randomly pop in shaded areas in the spring.

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) • Family: Lily (Liliaceae) • Habitat: rich woods • Height: 4-10 inches • Flower size: 1 inch wide • Flower color: yellow, sometimes marked with brown • Flowering time: March to May • Photo by Doug Colter

Dimpled Trout Lily by David Blevins

American Trout Lily by David Blevins

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) • Family: Lily (Liliaceae) • Habitat: rich woods • Height: 4-10 inches • Flower size: 1.75 inches wide • Flower color: yellow, sometimes marked with brown • Flowering time: March to May • Location: Bruce Trail - Heritage Rd. Caledon • Photo by Doug Colter