Erythronium dens-canis

DOG’S TOOTH VIOLET

No WA

Erythronium dens-canis
DOG’S TOOTH VIOLET

Erythronium dens-canis is a charmer.
With nodding blooms of mauve pink and turned up petals like a flock of pagodas.
Not permitted for WA

Large & enchantingly patterned flowers

Erythronium dens-canis has perhaps the largest blooms of all the enchanting Erythronium family.
Plus the throat of each flower is fetchingly marked with cinnamon brown and yellow chevrons.
And the leaves are also handsomely marbled with cinnamon and green patterns.

Breathtaking in shade gardens

Fortunately, Erythronium dens-canis is also perhaps the fastest to multiply.
So it will colonize a shaded area with offsets as well as self-seed.
So making a breath taking sight in early spring each year, and getting better all the time.

Low care

Then helpfully, flowers and foliage disappear away cleanly at the end of spring.
As the Erythroniums go into their summer dormancy.
So you don’t need to worry about summer heat or water-stress, and they can be left to quietly multiply by themselves.

Easy maintenance

Erythroniums do not need to be dug, lifted or divided.
And will co-habit happily interplanted with later spring blooming perennials such as Aquilegias. Which cover the spot the Erythroniums have left vacant.

Erythronium dens-canis is a bulbous perennial.
And no prizes for guessing that it hails from Oregon in North America.
Where it grows in the dappled and filtered light under trees and shrubs, in conifer or deciduous woodlands. Sometimes in quite rocky situations, so it clearly appreciates drainage, as well as humus rich soil.

Easily pleased in the shade

Erythroniums love humus rich soil; old leaf litter; and dappled shade.
And they are not thirsty plants so do not take a lot of water.
Instead they just like a consistent moisture level and detest being water-logged or really dried out.
But are happy in a wide variety of soil types, from sandy to clay, and in a variety of soil pH, from acid to alkaline.
Plus Erythronium are not the slightest bit frost tender.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:
Erythronium dens-canis

Best sown in a punnet in autumn or winter.
Because a period of chilling is required.

First soak the seeds in warm (not boiling) water and leave to stand overnight.

Then sow the seed in a punnet on good quality seed raising mix.
And barely just cover with sieved mix, sand, grit, or vermiculite.
Because light aids germination.
Thoroughly moisten the mix.

Give a winter chill

Now you can place the sown punnet outdoors in a shaded position (no direct sunlight) to receive the necessary 3 months winter chilling.
Or you can do the chilling by placing the plastic wrapped punnet in a fridge for 12 weeks.
If you are placing the sown punnet outdoors to let nature do the job – than you will need to wrap the punnet in fine wire mesh or net, to prevent birds and mice from scratching and eating.

After 12 weeks return the punnet to a well-lit, cool position.
And continue to keep moist.
Temperatures around 10C are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Then seeds sprout rapidly as the spring progresses.

Once germination has occurred, then prick the seedlings out and grow on individual seedlings in small pots until they are big enough to be planted out into the open garden.
Where they will increase their colony rapidly by both bulb offsets and self seeding

Flowers are usually produced in 3 years from seed.

Seed Count: 15 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/