Trout Lily

White Trout Lilies, Erythronium albidum

The White Trout Lily can be found throughout most of the central United States to the eastern coastline, and northward to parts of Canada. A member of the Lily Family, Liliaceae, there are many common names for this wildflower: White Trout Lily (or troutlily), Dogtooth violet, White fawnlily, Adder's tongue, or some variation of those words. More often, due to the green speckled torpedo-shaped leaves, the name trout lily is applied. Described formally in 1818 by Nuttall, this specific species has been given a number of sub-specific statuses due to the variations found. While the mottled leaves are a main characteristic, the flower color can vary from the usual white to shades of pink to red.

White Trout Lily flower macro

One of the first wildflowers to bloom in Texas, it is often considered a herald of spring. This native perennial reaches only about 15 cm (6 inches) tall. The White Trout Lily prefers partial to full shade, particularly on moist hillsides of open deciduous woodlands. It takes six to seven years before the seed will produce anything. During that sixth or seventh year, only one leaf will bloom and the second leaf plus flower will not show until the year following. The blooming period lasts for around 2 weeks, and if left undisturbed, can produce large colonies. An abundant colony is often an indicator that the area has never been subjected to the plow or bulldozer.

A small patch of Trout Lilies in the woodlands.

Deer occasionally eat the leaves, but its location and small size prevent major plant damage. Many insects visit this species including the Giant Bee Fly, and less often, butterflies and skippers. It is mainly pollinated by a number of honeybees and bumblebees, both long-tongued and short-tongued, such as Miner bees, Cuckoo bees, and Mason bees. The Trout Lily genus has a specialized, or oligolectic bee, known as the Trout Lily Bee, Andrena erythronii. Already blooming in Texas, and starting to show in other parts of the country, it is always worth looking into to Trout Lily events and walks near your area to see these!