Identifying and Managing Trout Lily (Dogtooth Violet) in a Shady Yard

Identifying and Managing Trout Lily (Dogtooth Violet) in a Shady Yard

A zone 5 gardener near the Great Lakes has a shade area colonized by plants with trapezoid leaves (4 inches), two leaves per stem, star-shaped yellow flowers (~1 inch), dull green leaves with dark markings. They form a ground cover.

Identification

This matches Trout Lily or Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium americanum). Confirmation photos here. It's a native spring ephemeral.

Behavior

• Grows from tiny tubers 3 inches deep.
• Blooms in spring, then goes dormant by early summer.
• Does not compete with summer plants.

Recommendation

Leave it! It's a beautiful native. Planting hostas or other shade perennials among them works well. Avoid covering with aggressive groundcovers like pachysandra, which would smother it.