dog tooth violet or trout lily

[minnesota_girl]

Hi, I don't have much to offer but does anyone have a dog tooth violet or trout lily?

[TheLorax]

Two different plants.

Dog Tooth Violet is Viola conspera.
Trout Lily is Erythronium americanum.

I don't think I have any Viola conspera here. Pretty sure I bought V. pedata, or V. pedatifida. I do have one V. pubescens that was a gift from a friend. I know I've also got the more common sororia and canadensis as well as a few bog violets but I can't remember which ones I have. Sorry about that.

I do have several seed parent plants of the Trout Lily but they are long gone because they're spring ephemerals. I've never collected seed from them but if you bang me over the head and remind me a gazillion times I could probably remember to do it next spring and no need for a trade or anything other than you would have to remind me to just do it for you when the seed is ready.

[minnesota_girl]

Thanks I posted this before I knew to much about them, I found them in a couple of different books and they looked the same but one book didn't give the botanical name, so I assumed...

no need for a trade or anything

Really, you sure?

[TheLorax]

I don't trade. If I have it, I share it if somebody wants it. All they have to do is kick me in the rear to remind me a few times. I went to where I thought they were just to poke around to see if I could find any seed. They're pretty spent by this time of year as they long ago withered away so it would have been like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Those plants bloomed in late April/early May of this year so that's the time to watch the plants to be able to collect seed. I can stick some panty hose over the top of a plant to make sure I get it for you. You will have to remind me though because I am a scatterbrain and would never remember to do this for you on my own.

[minnesota_girl]

Thank you so much! Do you have an advice on growing them?

[TheLorax]

They're a woodland species. They like moist but well drained soil high in organic material so leaf mulch should be fine. They're currently growing in an area that is about 60-70% deciduous shade (oak and hickory) companion planted with Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens and Dicentra cucullaria with several other woodland species and native grasses in the general area. This plant can't take full or even part sun. Dappled shade would be the best way to describe the exposure they can handle.

Normally found in small groups of plants but is capable of forming a decent sized colony. Pollinators are bees and ants, most probably other species too.

It's a deep rooted plant so should you do well with the seed, don't share plants with friends in the future as they don't transplant well. Seed is best to share for this species. You're dealing with a spring ephemeral here so it will die back by now so don't freak out. Will take several years to mature before it will bloom for you and even then only a few plants will bloom any one year.

Brief explanation on why you're responsible for reminding me to collect seed-
https://www.nanps.org/featuredplants.aspx?article=2006-winter-seedcollection.html
I'm going to have to go out there and trap the seed of one that flowers after I am relatively confident it has been pollinated.

[minnesota_girl]

Thanks so much! I will try to remember to remind you.