Erythronium dens-canis Rose Queen - Dogtooth violet

Erythronium dens canis 'Rose Queen' is a small bulb that is still relatively unknown to gardeners despite its many advantages. Everything about it is ornamental: its green leaves marbled with brown, its slender brown stems that bear gracefully forward-leaning flowers above the foliage, with dark pink petals curving upwards, a throat washed with yellow, and white stamens and a violet pistil. Resistant to cold, this Dog's Tooth Lily thrives in partial shade, in a humus-rich, well-draining soil that is not too dry. Planting it in groups creates a particularly ornamental mass effect.

Erythronium dens-canis belongs to the Lily family, like lilies of the valley, tulips, and lilies. This relatively unknown genus is rich in 27 species, almost all of which are American, except for 3 Asian species and this "dog's tooth violet", native in Europe. This surprising name comes from the shape of the bulb, which resembles a dog's canine tooth. It is a plant of not-too-dry undergrowth that thrives in humus-bearing, rich, light, moist (but not waterlogged), acidic, neutral, or not excessively calcareous soils. Erythronium dens canis, of European mountain origin, does not like heatwaves or long, very dry summers.

'Rose Queen' is a beautiful hybrid that reaches approximately 15 to 20 cm high and 10 to 15 cm wide. The plant forms two leaves from spring, from which a flower stem emerges a few centimetres. The thick, slightly soft, and somewhat 'fleshy' leaves, are oval to oblong, lanceolate, and sheathing at the base. The fairly dark green leaf is shiny and marbled with brown, resembling that of the Early Purple Orchid. From April to May, slender reddish-brown flower stems appear, gracefully arching downwards at the tip. Each stem bears a solitary flower, hanging towards the ground, with 6 recurved petals, revealing 6 long stamens with violet anthers that stretch towards the ground, opposite to the petals. This sculptural flower morphology is also found in Cyclamen, a member of another botanical family (primroses). In this hybrid, the petals have a beautiful dark pink hue, with the corolla displaying a more or less yellow central spot.

The foliage dries up during the summer, corresponding to the bulb's resting period. Flowering is followed by small black and ochre seeds, which fall near the base of the plant and are exclusively dispersed by ants.
This bulb grows in a wide variety of soils (pH 4.5 to 7.5) except for those that are truly chalky, and it requires moisture. The bulb cannot tolerate drought but will easily naturalise if the location suits it well. In summer, a layer of straw will prevent water evaporation and maintain slight humidity.

Due to habitat disturbance, and perhaps also due to the desire of rare plant enthusiasts, this Dog's Tooth Lily has become quite rare in the wild. It has given rise to beautiful horticultural forms, such as 'Rose Queen', which are quite difficult to find in commerce. Plant it in large numbers, under the edge of deciduous trees, to achieve an interesting visual effect and associate it with other plants that share the same needs. Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum), with its architectural stature and small white flower clusters, is perfect as a background. Caucasian Forget-Me-Not (Brunnera macrophylla), with its kidney-shaped leaves, produces charming blue flowers at the same time as the Erythronium. To vary styles and enjoy sophisticated blooms in a wide range of colours, add a few plants of Epimediums, a delightful little perennial well suited to partial shade. To extend the flowering season into summer, plant Ajuga reptans 'Rosea', a creeping Bugle with pink flowers.