Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is in the lily family family (Liliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,719 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Yellow Trout Lily: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Trout Lily
Erythronium americanum (trout lily, yellow trout lily, yellow dogtooth violet) is a species of perennial, colony forming, spring ephemeral flower native to North America and dwelling in woodland habitats. Within its range it is a very common and widespread species, especially in eastern North America. The common name "trout lily" refers to the appearance of its gray-green leaves mottled with brown or gray, which allegedly resemble the coloring of brook trout.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Trout Lily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 1,575 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 1,547 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 1,432 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,117 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 779 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 774 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 717 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 616 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 571 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 506 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 452 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 410 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 307 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 290 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 265 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 232 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 225 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 210 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 185 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 167 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 95 | March | Mar–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 94 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 91 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Minnesota | 30 | May | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Missouri | 6 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lily family)
Checker Lily
White Globe Lily
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Yellow Mariposa Lily
White Fawnlily
Tolmie's pussy ears
Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
Bluebead Lily
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Yellow Trout Lily?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to April.
Where is Yellow Trout Lily most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Ohio, New York.