Trout-lily
Erythronium americanum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Erythronium americanum, or trout lily, is a spring woodland forb that blooms in April and May across the eastern and midwestern United States, thriving in part shade with evenly moist soil.
Toxicity unknown
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
4"–8" H × 3"–6" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, CT, DE, GA and 24 more states
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
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Trout-lily is a charming early spring wildflower that produces single yellow blooms and distinctive mottled leaves. This low-growing native emerges in April, blooms briefly, then goes dormant by early summer, leaving bare ground for most of the growing season.
Growing Trout-lily
Grow Trout-lily in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 8 inches tall and spread 3 to 6 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Trout-lily takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Completely disappears by summer leaving bare patches
- Very brief bloom period
- Appears weedy or dead for most of the year
Wildlife value
The early spring flowers provide nectar for emerging bees and flies when few other food sources are available.
Common questions
- When does trout lily bloom?
- Trout lily blooms in April and May, one of the earlier flowering forbs in deciduous woodlands before the tree canopy fully leafs out.
- What pollinates trout lily?
- Bees and flies are the main pollinators of trout lily, visiting the nodding yellow flowers during the short spring bloom window.
- What light and moisture does trout lily need?
- Trout lily grows best in part shade with medium, consistently moist soil, similar to the dappled light of a deciduous forest floor in spring.
- Does trout lily keep its leaves year round?
- No. Trout lily is a spring ephemeral, meaning its leaves die back and disappear by early summer after the plant finishes flowering.
- Is Trout-lily HOA-friendly?
- Trout-lily takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Trout-lily? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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