The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: white trout-lily, dogtooth-violet

Family: Liliaceae (lily family)

Distribution: c. and e. North America

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: White trout lily is a rare sight indeed in the Woodland Garden, much less common than its relative, the yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum). It typically grows in moist woods on slopes and bluffs or along streams. It grows 6-12" tall, forming two basal tulip-like leaves from which a single lily-shaped white flower blooms atop a naked stalk. The tepals will often be swept backwards and have some brownish yellow coloring at the bases. Plants with two leaves will usually flower, but large colonies of this plant will often have many non-flowering plants that only have one leaf. Like some other spring ephemerals, the flowers will close up at night and open again in the day when it’s warm. The foliage is attractively mottled with silver-green blotches. Some Native Americans used this plant medicinally to treat various wounds or ailments. Bees are its most frequent pollinators.