Erythronium umbilicatum

Product Info

Dimpled Trout Lily (Erythronium umbilicatum)
Lily Family

Trout lilies are a true spring ephemeral. Their elaborately speckled leaves begin to emerge in February, followed shortly after by nodding, yellow flowers. By late spring or early summer, they will go completely dormant. The variation in leaf colors is as varied as individual snowflakes, and it is a true joy to witness. These woodland plants need rich, humusy, moist soil. Plants will form small colonies over time by corm offshoots and seed. Only plants with 2 leaves will flower–this can often take 7 years from seed.  They are not known to have much pollinator value, but are thought to provide an important role in erosion control and water uptake when few other plants are actively growing.

Blooms: Yellow, 1-2 weeks, February-March
Leaves: Mottled green & purple leaves die back by late spring
Height: 6”
Space: 6-12”
Soil: Average-Moist, organic soil with lots of leaf litter
Exposure: Shade-Part shade
Fauna: Mostly bees
Seeds: Ant distributed, can take 5-7 years from seed to flower
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 4-9
Native Status: NC native, common in the Piedmont and Mountains, uncommon in the Sandhills
Provenance: North Carolina ecotype, seed and asexually grown