A reader asks: Dog toothed violet leaves have appeared in my garden in the last three years but
have never bloomed. This time of year they get dappled. Any clue why they aren’t blooming? There is a large
black walnut tree about 20 feet from the patch.Craig Everett, OSU Extension responds: Dogtooth Violets, Fawn
lily, and Trout lily are all common names for Erythronium americanum.This native plant to Ohio is commonly
found in full shade, abundant organic matter, and moist well- drained soil. The main feature of this
wildflower is yellow, nodding, lily-like flowers; at the base of the plant, with two leaves mottled with
dark spots. They will naturalize (slowly), and the plant goes dormant in summer (foliage dies
down).According to Randy Haar, an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who has done some research on the
Erythronium species these wildflowers take up to seven or more years to flower. He noted that these
wildflowers will not flower until the plant has at least two leaves at the base. His best advice is being
patient.A reader asks: Dog toothed violet leaves have appeared in my garden in the last three years but have
never bloomed. This time of year they get dappled. Any clue why they aren’t blooming? There is a large black
walnut tree about 20 feet from the patch.Craig Everett, OSU Extension responds: Dogtooth Violets, Fawn lily,
and Trout lily are all common names for Erythronium americanum.This native plant to Ohio is commonly found
in full shade, abundant organic matter, and moist well- drained soil. The main feature of this wildflower is
yellow, nodding, lily-like flowers; at the base of the plant, with two leaves mottled with dark spots. They
will naturalize (slowly), and the plant goes dormant in summer (foliage dies down).According to Randy Haar,
an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who has done some research on the Erythronium species these
wildflowers take up to seven or more years to flower. He noted that these wildflowers will not flower until
the plant has at least two leaves at the base. His best advice is being patient.
