Dog-tooth Violet is a species of flowering plant in the lily family which is known by several common names, including yellow avalanche lily, glacier lily, and dogtooth fawn lily. It is native to western North America from California to Alberta to New Mexico. It can be found in subalpine mountain meadows, slopes, and clearings.
The plant grows from a deep bulb which is 3 to 5 centimeters wide. Its two green leaves are wavy-edged and up to 20 centimeters long. The stalk may reach 30 centimeters tall and bears one to three showy flowers. Each flower has bright lemon yellow tepals, white stamens with large white to yellow to red anthers, and a white style. The flower is pollinated by bumblebees and other bees.
Dog-Tooth Violets prefer slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these contain plenty of humus. They require semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil.
Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer, it should germinate in autumn or winter. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification. Sow as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow the seed thinly so that it will not be necessary to prick them out for their first year of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed to the seedlings to make sure that they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for another 2 to 3 years and then plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant in late summer. Division of the bulbs in the summer as the leaves die down. Larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on in a shady position in a greenhouse for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.
All seeds are this season's harvest.
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