Trout Lily in the Native Habitat Garden

Vibrant yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) flowers stand out in the still-awakening Native Habitat Garden.

These shade-loving perennials prefer rich, moist woodland soils and bloom in early spring. One of their many great features is their semi-resistance to deer predation, a trait uncommon in many native plants. Their name “trout” lily comes from the mottled look of their leaves, which resembles the pattern of scales on a trout fish. Their blooming period is somewhat short lived, and the plants will go dormant quickly after flowering. It is advised to gardeners considering including this plant in their native garden beds to place it alongside later blooming plants such as wild ginger or long-lived seasonal greenery such as fern species, which also enjoy shady woodland areas.

Photo by Laura Berry.