Why did my plants disappear in summer?

They are spring ephemerals and go dormant once the weather warms up.

Can I grow these in a lawn?

They thrive in woodland settings but struggle in frequently mowed grass.

Plant guide

Trout Lily.

Erythronium americanum

Pronounced eh-rih-THROH-nee-um uh-MEH-rih-kah-num

Also known as Amberbell, American trout lily, Dogtooth Violet, Trout-lily, Yellow Adder's-tongue, trout lily, yellow dog's-tooth violet, yellow dogtooth violet

yellow trout lily — Photo by mrdace (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The Trout Lily is a charming spring ephemeral that carpets woodland floors with nodding, yellow flowers. It gets its name from the mottled, trout like patterns on its leaves. These plants go dormant by early summer, so you will only see them for a short window each year.

Another photo of Trout Lily — Photo by Cheryl Stinchcomb (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 15 cm tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Plant these in rich, moist soil where they can enjoy dappled sunlight before the forest canopy fills in. Watch for signs of dehydration if the spring is unusually dry, as they prefer consistent moisture. Once the foliage yellows and dies back in late spring, stop watering and let the bulbs rest.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the active growing season.
Feeding: Apply a light layer of compost in autumn to provide nutrients for the following spring.
Pruning: Simply remove any dead foliage once it has completely yellowed and withered in late spring.
Repotting: Divide clumps during dormancy if they become too crowded.
Soil: Humus rich, moist, well draining
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -30 to 25°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, long lived in ideal conditions
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Low

Signs it needs repotting

Bulbs pushing out of the soil
Crowded growth reducing flower production

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non toxic, but raw bulbs can cause mild stomach upset.
Children: The small bulbs could pose a choking hazard if dug up and handled by small children.
Contact allergens: There are no known skin irritants associated with this plant.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not considered a significant airborne allergen.
Edibility: The bulbs and leaves are edible but should be harvested sparingly to avoid killing the slow growing colony.

How to identify it

Yellow, lily like nodding flowers
Mottled brown and green leaves
Basal leaves in pairs
Six pointed, recurved petals
Emerges early in spring

Height: 0.1 to 0.2m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.15m
Leaves: green, bronze, mottled, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 3 to 5cm
Fruit: tan, Late spring

Problems to watch for

Bulb RotCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
RodentsUncommon
Root RotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: fall
Overwintering: The bulbs are hardy and require no protection, but a layer of leaf mulch helps maintain consistent soil moisture.
In containers: They are not well suited for containers as they require specific woodland soil conditions and deep dormancy.

Division

1. Wait until the foliage has yellowed in late spring.
2. Carefully dig up the bulb cluster.
3. Gently separate the offsets from the main bulb.
4. Replant immediately at the same depth.

Plant them in large drifts under deciduous trees to mimic their natural forest floor habitat.

Grows well with

Trillium · They share the same woodland habitat and bloom timing.
Bloodroot · These plants thrive in the same moist, shaded soil conditions.

Similar species

White Trout Lily · It is a very similar species but features white flowers.

Science

Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Erythronium
Order: Liliales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Eastern North America
Conservation: This species is common in its native range and is not currently listed as endangered.

It survives by storing energy in deep bulbs to fuel rapid spring growth before trees shade the forest floor.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: woodland garden, naturalizing, edible bulb

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 3/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why did my plants disappear in summer?: They are spring ephemerals and go dormant once the weather warms up.
Can I grow these in a lawn?: They thrive in woodland settings but struggle in frequently mowed grass.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Greek word for red, though this species has yellow flowers. The species name refers to its North American origin.

Good to know

The leaves often feature beautiful mottled brown or purple markings.
It is also known as the yellow adder's tongue due to the shape of its leaves.
Colonies can take many years to reach flowering size from seed.
The flowers close up tightly during cloudy or rainy weather.

Also in

Plants for shade

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.