Dog’s-tooth violet

Spring flowering bulb

Flower colour: yellow, white and pink

Flowering period: April – May

Average plant height: 30 cm

Planting depth to base of bulb: 10 cm

Spacing between bulbs: 15 cm

Type of bulb: tuberous roots

Light requirements: full or partial shade

Landscape uses: under trees and shrubs, well-drained rock gardens, and perennial beds

Of the approximately 16 species, no fewer than 15 are native to North America. Only one species, Erythronium dens-canis, grows in Europe as well as in Asia (as far east as Japan). This is the species known as Dog’s-tooth violet because of the shape of its tubers. The natural habitat for this species is a woody mountainous region. They are not easy to cultivate.

Plant the small tubers as soon as you acquire them because they dry out quickly. Having a nutrient-rich, moisture-retentive soil is important. Experience has shown that the plants can remain planted in the same location for many years where they can spread and produce increasingly more flowers. A layer of mulch during a dry summer can work wonders by preventing the plants from drying out.

Watch our planting flower bulbs video

Related variations

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Ornamental Onion

Indian quamash

Glory-of-the-snow

Bird-in-a-bush

Winter aconite

Foxtail lily

Fritillaria

Snowdrop

Amaryllis

Bluebell

Dutch hyacinth

Ipheion uniflorum

Dutch iris

Ixiolirion tataricum

Snowflake

Madonna lily

Grape hyacinth

Daffodil and Jonquil

Netaroscordum siculum

Ornithogalum

Oxalis adenophylla

Striped squill

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