White troutlily, Dogtooth violet, White fawnlily, Adder's tongue
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Loveless, Brenda K.
A low, lily-like plant with elliptic
basal leaves which may or may not be maroon-mottled. Sterile 1-leaved plants grow together with fertile 2-leaved plants. A white bell-shaped flower,
1-2 in. long, is borne on 6-12 in. stalk. Petals and sepals
are often bent backwards exposing six brown stamens. The name Dogtooth Violet comes from its root, a corm
the size of a dogs tooth.
Leaves make an attractive ground cover. Plants multiply rapidly by root offshoots and seed, but can require up to six years before blooming.
Image Gallery: 29 photo(s) available
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial Habit: Herb Leaf Complexity: Simple Size Notes:
6 to 10 inches high Leaf:
Green mottled with purple Flower: Flower
1 inch across
Fruit: Size Class:
Bloom InformationBloom Color:
White Bloom Time:
Feb , Mar , Apr Bloom Notes: In
Texas, blooms at same time as redbuds and wild plums.
, DC Canada: ON Native Distribution:
Southern Ontario south to eastern Texas Native Habitat:
woods; thickets; floodplains; prairies
Growing ConditionsWater Use:
Low , Medium Light Requirement:
Part Shade , Shade Soil Moisture:
Moist , Dry Soil pH:
Acidic (pH<6.8) , Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2) Soil Description:
Deep, humus-rich loam; acid, neutral, and lime soils okay, moist to dry Conditions Comments:
Adapted to grow in deciduous
hardwood forests, so should be planted where it will receive ample sun in early spring.
BenefitUse Ornamental: Adds white, early spring blossoms and pleasant, ground-level foliage to the woodland garden.
Use Wildlife: Deer consume leaves.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: No