Also known as trout lily, this native woodland perennial is a harbinger of spring thriving in the shade.
The best effect is created by mass plantings or drifts.
Find a location where the plant can remain undisturbed, which increases the likelihood of it naturalizing over time.
Thriving in moist or wet soil, it also grows well along stream banks and beside ponds.
Plant it on stream banks to help prevent erosion.
Pair dog tooth violet with other spring-blooming woodland wildflowers for a springtime flower show.
When you receive the bulbs, they might look dry and discolored, which does not affect their viability.
Space the bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart depending on the height of the variety.
Light
Dog tooth violet grows best in part shade or filtered shade.
Plants maintain their foliage longer in moist soil.
The ideal pH is in the neutral range, between 6.8 and 7.2.
All dog tooth violets flourish in cool damp climates and struggle in humid heat.
It will reappear the following spring.
It is rarely browsed by deer.
Using those for propagation is gentler than digging out the entire clump and dividing it.
Replant the bulblets following the instructions underHow to Plant Dog Tooth Violet.
It grows 4 to 6 inches tall.
It has creamy white nodding flowers with butter-yellow centers and few but thick, broad leaves.
It grows 8 to 10 inches tall.
It produces up to five golden-yellow flowers on each stem.
The leaves are thick and veined in whitish green.
It grows 12 to 14 inches tall.
It has creamy white flowers that turn white as they age.
The large, reflexed flowers have a fuchsia coloring and reddish-brown-throated base, resembling large cyclamen.
It grows 5 inches tall.
The blue, bell-shaped flowers open above bright green foliage in midspring.
As the flowers fade, the plant produces a cluster of red berries mid to late summer.
The Minnesota dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans) is a federally endangered species.
The plant is not known to be toxic to humans or pets.
