Erythronium americanum, commonly known as Yellow Trout Lily, is a beautiful spring ephemeral native to Illinois woodlands. It thrives in moist, rich soils, often forming dense colonies in shaded areas.
This perennial wildflower features distinctive mottled green leaves resembling a trout’s pattern and elegant yellow, nodding flowers with recurved petals. Blooming in early spring, it provides nectar for pollinators like bees before going dormant by summer.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Erythronium americanum is a treasured woodland species, adding charm and ecological value to naturalized gardens and forest floors.
Erythronium americanum, commonly known as Yellow Trout Lily, is a beautiful spring ephemeral native to Illinois woodlands. It thrives in moist, rich soils, often forming dense colonies in shaded areas.
This perennial wildflower features distinctive mottled green leaves resembling a trout’s pattern and elegant yellow, nodding flowers with recurved petals. Blooming in early spring, it provides nectar for pollinators like bees before going dormant by summer.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Erythronium americanum is a treasured woodland species, adding charm and ecological value to naturalized gardens and forest floors.
Bloom: mid-spring
Habitats: banks of streams; rich woodlands; wooded bluffs
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: more or less mesic
Plant type (height): forb (up to 6 inches)
Requirements: dappled sunlight to moderate shade
Soil: loamy soil with leaf litter and decaying organic matter
