Erythronium albidum aka White Dog's Tooth Violet

Erythronium albidum is a small spring flower in the lily family. People call it white trout lily or white dog's-tooth violet. Its home range spans southeastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. In Missouri, it grows in damp woods and beside streams. It also grows on wooded slopes and bluffs. It suits gardens in temperate zones, where the climate is mild. The plant rests for part of each year.

Plants grow about 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.3 metres) tall. In gardens, they spread about 0.5 feet (0.15 metres) wide. Small food stores below ground fuel new growth in spring. They look like teeth, hence the dog's-tooth name. Stems called stolons help plants spread at a slow pace. In time, they form broad groups, or colonies. Each plant that blooms has two leaves at its base. Many plants in these groups have just one leaf. The long leaves look like tongues. Brown spots mark the gray-green leaves. These add interest before the blooms appear.

A bare stalk holds one white flower that nods down. The stalk has a pale red-violet hue. The flower's six petals bend back from the centre. Its base is yellow. Its six stamens, the male flower parts, have yellow tips. Missouri Botanical Garden gives April as the bloom month. Chicago Botanic Garden lists March–April and May–June bloom periods. The blooms give a brief spring show on shaded ground. The leaves die back as the plant starts to rest. This may occur by late spring or during summer.

Grow it in moist, acidic soil rich in humus. Give it part shade or full shade. Missouri Botanical Garden gives USDA hardiness zones 3–8. Chicago Botanic Garden gives zones 4–8. The plant needs a moderate amount of water. Plants grown from seed take four or five years to bloom. Corms, the food stores below ground, give faster results. Mature plants also form small new plants called offsets. Plant corms in fall, below the soil surface. Leave space between them so they have room to grow. Leave settled groups in place where possible. Plants do not move well to new sites. Do not take plants from the wild.

Use it in woodland, shade, or native plant gardens. It also suits shaded rock gardens and pond or stream banks. Groups can fill gaps beneath taller plants or along borders. Chicago Botanic Garden says it draws birds and butterflies. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no major pests or plant diseases. When leaves die back in summer, the plant is resting. This leaf loss does not mean lasting decline.