Trout Lily Care Guide: How to Grow This Native Woodland Ephemeral
The trout lily only blooms 1-2 weeks per year, but it's worth it! Plant these gorgeous woodland wildflowers for a blanket of yellow every spring.
Native to eastern North America, trout lily is a pretty woodland wildflower. It’s one of the early spring flowers that adds a pop of color to shady natural areas. While the flowers only last for about two weeks, they are a delight to see as the winter finally fades and spring begins. If you’re looking for a cheerful April bloom for shaded areas of your garden, consider planting some trout lily bulbs.
About Trout Lily
Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is a spring ephemeral and a native wildflower. As an ephemeral, it’s part of that first flush of color you see in early spring. After a brief and early blooming period, it goes dormant until the following year. Trout lily is a perennial that blooms in wooded areas.
The name trout lily comes from the lily-like flower and the brownish-green mottled leaves reminiscent of a trout’s coloring. Other common names for this native wildflower include yellow adder’s tongue, yellow fawn lily, and yellow dog-tooth violet.
Trout lily plants grow from corms, although they're often referred to as bulbs. They reach a height of four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) and can be used as a groundcover in wooded areas. The leaves are mottled and lance-shaped. A single yellow flower blooms on each stem and resembles a nodding bell or a small lily.
Trout lily’s native range extends over most of eastern North America, as far north as Ontario and Quebec, and as far west as Minnesota, Missouri, and Arkansas. To the south, it can be found in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.
Why Plant Trout Lilies?
The diminutive and native spring ephemeral trout lily is a great choice for adding more native species to your garden. They bloom before trees leaf out, providing early spring color. They grow well in shaded and woodland areas. Once you establish a colony of trout lilies, they’ll reward you each year with a brief but brilliant carpet of yellow.
As a native species, you can feel good about adding trout lily to your garden and natural areas. The flowers attract pollinators, specifically the Andrena miner bees, which are so important for pollinating trees, berry bushes, and woodland flowers.
How to Plant Trout Lilies
You can start trout lilies from seed, but this requires patience. It can take up to five years to see flowers after sowing seeds. They also don’t transplant well. The best way to start a new colony of trout lilies is by planting the corms. Many companies that sell native bulbs and seeds will have trout lily corms available.
Get your own trout lilies from Town Creek Nursery in McMinnville, Tennessee.
Plant the corms in a natural wooded area on your property or any spot that has partial shade or full shade, and moist soil rich in humus. While a natural woodland spot is best, you can grow trout lilies anywhere the sunlight and soil conditions are right. Try beds in shady areas or under trees and shrubs. Even when planted by corm, trout lily might not bloom for two to three years, so be patient.
Plant corms in the fall so that they are about four inches (10 cm) deep in the soil. Space them four inches apart. Place the bulbs so that the pointed end is up toward the soil surface. If you live in the colder end of the hardiness range for trout lily, cover the planted corms with mulch to protect them over the winter.
Caring for Trout Lily Colonies
Once they get going, your trout lilies will develop into colonies that can last for decades. If planted in the right spot, they don’t need much care. If the soil doesn’t stay consistently moist, water the area regularly to keep it moist but not soggy. The soil should drain well to prevent root rot and corm rot.
The flowers of the trout lilies will fade quickly. Let the leaves remain in place so they can gather sunlight and energy to put into storage for the following year’s blooms. The leaves will disappear on their own, but you can also remove them once they begin to turn yellow.
Companion Plants for Trout Lilies
Trout lily grows very well with other spring ephemerals. By planting several types of native woodland spring flowers together, you make the most of the brief show they put on this time of year. Plant trout lily in a wooded area with other natives like Virginia bluebells, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauty, and trillium for variety.
You can also plant shade-loving foliage plants with trout lily and other woodland spring ephemerals for contrast. Native ferns are a great option, as are wild ginger and mayapple. These plants provide pretty and interesting foliage after your spring ephemerals have finished blooming.
