woodland wildflower
Yellow trout lily
Erythronium americanum
Also known as Yellow Trout-lily, American Trout-lily, Eastern Trout-lily, Yellow Dogtooth Violet, Adder's Tongue, dogtooth violet
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
New Brunswick, southern Que and southern Ontario, south through mountains to northern Georgia and to northeastern Oklahoma
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–May Flowering time
- Height up to 8 in to 20 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for partial shade and evenly moist soil. Its yellow flowers peak in April. At up to 8 in, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8.
Growing conditions
Hardiness zones
When it blooms
The Yellow trout lily's yellow flowers bloom March to May, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and butterflies.
Yellow trout lily blooms yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Two-spotted Bumble Bee, Tricolored Bumble Bee +14 more
Pure Green Sweat bee, Perplexing Bumble Bee, Colletes inaequalis, Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Horn-faced Mason Bee, Carlin's Mining Bee, Black-and-yellow Nomad Bee, Bufflehead Mason Bee, Cresson's Mining Bee, Orange-legged Miner Bee, Tridentate Miner, Trout-lily Mining Bee, Spring Beauty Miner, Dunning's Miner - Butterflies Northern Azure
also Mustard White, Incisalia irioides, Cyaniris neglecta +1 more
West Virginia White - Flower flies Greater Bee Fly
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Eastern pine elfinnectar
- Summer azurenectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (30): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (4): NB, NS, ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- New Brunswick, southern Que and southern Ontario, south through mountains to northern Georgia and to northeastern OklahomaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, rich soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 8 in (to 20 cm)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~0 ft (0.1 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Apr–MayThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.