Trout Lily
Erythronium americanum
Blooms March to May
This distinctive plant is one of our earliest spring wildflowers and sometimes occurs in large colonies. Often the flowers are hidden beneath leaves or are too pale to be noticed easily, but the mottled leaves are conspicuous are a tip-off to the plant's identity. Another common name for this plant is Dogtooth Violet, which refers to the shape of the white bulb of the plant. It is a lily however and not a violet.
NC range of Erythronium americanum