Trout-lily, Fawn-lily or Dog's Tooth Violet
(Erythronium americanum)
(Erythronium americanum)
Erythronium americanum is a
really neat little plant that comes up
in early March and is gone by the
first of June. It almost always
grows near a water source in this
part of Tennessee, usually on a
steep hillside. It is one of my
favorite spring wildflowers,
because it comes up so early.
These pictures were taken behind
my house in the ravine the creek
runs through on its way to Center
Hill Lake. Trout lilies are small,
rarely taller than 5", with heavily
mottled leaves, hence the names
trout and fawn lily. They are bright
yellow with deep orange anthers.
They grow from a small white bulb
that actually digs itself deeper into
the rich soil they grow in.
really neat little plant that comes up
in early March and is gone by the
first of June. It almost always
grows near a water source in this
part of Tennessee, usually on a
steep hillside. It is one of my
favorite spring wildflowers,
because it comes up so early.
These pictures were taken behind
my house in the ravine the creek
runs through on its way to Center
Hill Lake. Trout lilies are small,
rarely taller than 5", with heavily
mottled leaves, hence the names
trout and fawn lily. They are bright
yellow with deep orange anthers.
They grow from a small white bulb
that actually digs itself deeper into
the rich soil they grow in.
Trout lilies only bloom
on sunny days and the
flowers follow the
sunlight. The petals curve
back when fully opened.
Once pollinated, the
seed pod bends to the
ground and releases its
seed on the leaf litter.
The seed I raised from
wild populations took 4
years to bloom, but has
bloomed every year for
the last 10 years and has
mutiplied every year until
it is a patch about 2 feet
across.
on sunny days and the
flowers follow the
sunlight. The petals curve
back when fully opened.
Once pollinated, the
seed pod bends to the
ground and releases its
seed on the leaf litter.
The seed I raised from
wild populations took 4
years to bloom, but has
bloomed every year for
the last 10 years and has
mutiplied every year until
it is a patch about 2 feet
across.
@ copyright Brad Walker, Dec. 2, 2007
I have found trout lilies over
this entire section of
Tennessee, it is very plentiful,
but don't be tempted to dig it
up. The bulbs are usually six
to 10 inches in the ground, in
very rocky soil on steep
hillsides and it takes years for
them to bloom. You can now
find them at several reputable
nurseries.
I have also found a large
patch of the White Trout Lily
(Erythronium albidum) in only
one spot locally. It is on
private property now and I
can't get permission to take a
photo of them.
this entire section of
Tennessee, it is very plentiful,
but don't be tempted to dig it
up. The bulbs are usually six
to 10 inches in the ground, in
very rocky soil on steep
hillsides and it takes years for
them to bloom. You can now
find them at several reputable
nurseries.
I have also found a large
patch of the White Trout Lily
(Erythronium albidum) in only
one spot locally. It is on
private property now and I
can't get permission to take a
photo of them.