Plant trout lily from a nursery corm in fall, pointed end up, about 3 to 4 inches deep.
Plant corms in fall, pointed end up, about 3 to 4 inches deep
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Fall, as soon as the corms arrive. They have no dry tunic | Do not store them on a shelf the way you might store tulips |
| Set | Pointed end up. If you cannot tell, set the corm on its side | Do not plant the point down |
| Depth | About 3 to 4 inches of soil over the corm. Space 4 to 5 inches apart | Do not use a waterlogged hole, or leave the corm sitting on the surface |
| Stock | Buy a nursery-grown corm | Do not dig a wild colony |
Unpack and plant the week the bag arrives. The elongated corm is sometimes sold as a bulb; after that, call it a corm. These corms shrivel if they sit dry. [1] Set the pointed end up, about 4 inches deep and 4 inches apart. [2] yellow trout lily and Pagoda take that same fall set. Confirm the kind on Types of Trout Lily if the tag is only a shop color.
- Buy nursery stock. Do not dig a wild clump.
- Dig into moist, humus-rich ground that still drains. Set the pointed end up. If you cannot tell, set the corm on its side.
- Cover with about 3 to 4 inches of soil. Space 4 to 5 inches apart. [3]
- Water once to settle. Top with leaf litter. After that, shade and water stay on How to Grow Trout Lily.
How deep do I plant trout lily?
About 3 to 4 inches deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Set the pointed end up.
When should I plant trout lily?
In fall, as soon as you have the corms. They dry out in the bag.
Divide a garden clump when the leaves yellow
Trout lily does not like to be moved once it is established. If you need more plants from a garden clump you already grow, lift it when the leaves start to yellow.
- Mark the clump in spring while you can still see the leaves.
- In late summer, after the top yellows, slide a fork outside the clump and lift. [4]
- Gently tease the offsets apart. Replant each corm at once, about 3 inches deep, and water to settle.
When do I divide trout lily?
Lift a garden clump when the leaves yellow. Tease the offsets apart and replant at once. Leave a wild stand alone.
If the corm is still in the bag, plant it now in moist humus — do not wait until it dries out.
FAQ
Can I dig trout lily from the woods?
No. Native colonies transplant poorly, and wild digging harms the stand. Buy nursery corms.
What if my corm arrives in spring?
Plant it as soon as it arrives. Do not let a bare corm dry on a shelf. You may get foliage this year.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Easy To Grow Bulbs -
https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/pages/trout-lilies-erythronium-planting-guide - [2] Gardenia -
https://www.gardenia.net/guide/learn-how-to-plant-care-and-grow-splendid-erythronium - [3] University of Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/erythronium-pagoda/ - [4] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=eram5
This note is part of Erythronium Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors