PLANT OF THE MONTH

April 2021 — Dogtooth Violet / Trout Lily

Common Name: Dogtooth Violet / Trout Lily

Latin Name: Erythronium dens-canis   (air-ih-THROE-nee-um dens-KAY-nis)

Family: Liliaceae

Type:  Herbaceous perennial flowering bulb

Origin: Central and Southern Europe

Location at Bloedel Reserve: Rhododendron Glen

Garden Uses: Perennial flower bed

 Fun Fact:  The Latin name for this perennial — Erythronium dens-canis — derives from eruthros, meaning “red” in Greek and refers to the color of the flowers. The first common name you see — Dogtooth Violet — comes from the oblong shape of the bulb, which slightly resembles a dog’s canine tooth. And the flower is somewhat violet-like. But this plant is not in the violet family at all. The other common name for this plant — Trout Lily — places it in its proper family of plants and refers to the mottling on its leaves, which looks similar to the spotting you see on the sides of some trout (the fish, that is). It also happens that these lovely flowers come into bloom during trout fishing season!