Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily)

Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily) is a charming perennial boasting nodding, lily-shaped, white flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), one per stem, in early to mid-spring. Each blossom features elegantly reflexed petals and bright yellow anthers.

Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily) is a charming perennial boasting nodding, lily-shaped, white flowers, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), one per stem, in early to mid-spring. Each blossom features elegantly reflexed petals and bright yellow anthers. They rise atop a naked scape, well above the basal foliage of elliptic leaves, softly marbled with silver-green. White Trout Lily is a spring ephemeral whose foliage disappears by late spring as the plant goes dormant. Highly ornamental, White Trout Lily makes an attractive ground cover in the shade garden. Lovely in groups under deciduous trees or near ponds and streams where it will happily multiply.

  • Grows up to 6-12 in. tall (15-30 cm) and 3-6 in. wide (7-15 cm). This beauty multiplies quickly by root offshoots and seeds to form large colonies but may take up to 6 years before blooming.
  • Easily grown in humus-rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade.
  • Stunning in shade gardens, rock gardens, underplanting shrubs or roses, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or near ponds and streams. Great as a groundcover too. Because it goes dormant after blooming, interplant with late emerging perennials to fill in the open space (bleeding heart, columbine, and hostas).
  • No serious pest or disease issues.
  • Propagate by root division, seeds. Plants propagated from seed will not bloom until their third or fourth year.
  • To be planted in fall, 2-3 in. deep (5-7 cm) and 4-5 in. apart (10-12 cm). Resent transplanting, therefore make sure you find the right home for this plant.
  • Native to Eastern North America

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 8

Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Erythronium – Dog Tooth Violets
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid)
Height 6"
– 1'
(15cm
– 30cm)
Spread 3"
– 6"
(7cm
– 15cm)
Spacing 4″
– 5″
(10cm
– 12cm)
Depth 2"
– 3"
(5cm
– 7cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Garden Uses Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow