The bulbs with plenty of bite

Delicate flowers of dog’s-tooth violet will light up any shady spot in spring

THE common names of flowers often derive from their appearance, whether it is their colour, shape, habit of growth or some other characteristic. So when a plant is called dog’s-tooth violet, you might expect to find that its leaves or flowers are decorated with a duotone pattern of jagged checks.

Yet take a close look at the aboveground parts of this exquisite spring flower and you’ll be left wondering how it ever wound up with such a descriptive name. Well, the answer lies below the soil – its bulbs are white, long, slightly curved and pointed, just like a dog’s fang.

Native to central and southern Europe, Erythronium dens-canis boasts delicate, nodding flowers with swept-back pink petals. These are displayed on slender stems above large, chocolate-blotched leaves during March and April.

It is the only dog’s-tooth violet that originates from Europe but is part of a larger family of bulbous perennials, with relatives in Asia and North America. They can be found in a range of habitats, including meadows and mountain slopes.

Many species have an intriguing past. For example, Erythronium americanum, a yellow-flowered type from the eastern side of the United States, was once highly valued by Native American tribes. The leaves, bulbs and flowers were eaten, while a juice made from crushed bulbs was dabbed on wounds to help them heal.

In our gardens, erythroniums thrive in dappled shade, making them ideal for planting beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, popping into dimly lit beds, borders and rock gardens, or for displaying in a woodland style garden. All will multiply steadily, forming large carpets over time.

Bulbs are available for planting in the autumn, but I prefer to start from ready-grown plants bought in bud or flower. Apart from providing some instant impact, they establish far more readily.

Almost 200 different erythroniums are available in Britain, with 3in to 16in-tall stems carrying white, yellow, pink or purple flowers from March to May, depending on variety. The blooms of Erythronium californicum, E. grandiflorum and a few others possess a fresh, citrusy scent.

The foliage of erythroniums is just as diverse. The broad, glossy leaves are sometimes plain green, faintly marbled or heavily decorated with white or bronze markings. Even after the flowers fade, foliage continues to add interest until dying back in midsummer.

Erythroniums do best in well drained, moisture-retentive soil, but can cope with drier ground if improved with garden compost. Plant in groups for the greatest impact, alongside bronze grasses ferns or brunnera.

European dog’s-tooth violets are ideal for naturalising in lawns, particularly in short grass under trees.

Doing this with pot-grown plants would be costly and leave the lawn looking like a minefield, so go for bulbs in autumn. Plant them 8in deep, spacing 8in apart.

Take measures to prevent foliage being eaten by slugs early in the year, and remove fading flowers to prevent plants producing seeds – this will ensure they spread quickly by directing energy into developing more bulbs. Mulch every autumn with leaf mould.

NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES USED THEM TO HEAL WOUNDS