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Erythronium americanum

Amberbell · American Trout Lily · Dogtooth Violet

Family LiliaceaeGenus Erythronium

A yellow flower with petals swept back above a mottled leaf on the woodland floor
FlowerKaldariPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    5/12 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

58% germination in 70–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. americanum germ. in an extended pattern as shown by 70-40(7/12 in 10-12 w)-70-40-70-40(5/12 in 2nd w) and 40-70-40(3/19 in 9th w)-70(8/19 in one d to 5 w) using fresh seed. The cotyledons develop in 10 d on shifting to 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 4, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    3/19 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 35 days.

42% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140Public domain
Show the original text
Erythronium (Liliaceae). E. americanum germ. in an extended pattern as shown by 70-40(7/12 in 10-12 w)-70-40-70-40(5/12 in 2nd w) and 40-70-40(3/19 in 9th w)-70(8/19 in one d to 5 w) using fresh seed. The cotyledons develop in 10 d on shifting to 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Erythronium p. 140. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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