North Carolina Wildflowers That Grow From Bulbs

Trout Lily

• One of the earliest spring flowers, trout lily (Erythronium americanum) bears small, yellow flowers from March to May. Found in deciduous woodlands from North Carolina’s mountains to the Piedmont region, trout lily prefers rich, moist acidic soil. Its broad, mottled leaves are said to resemble the markings on a brook trout. Trout lily grows about 6 to 10 inches tall and requires light, filtered sunlight in spring in order to bloom. This plant grows in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.

Jack in the Pulpit

• Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is typically found in bogs and wooded areas near streams and waterfalls throughout the state. It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and produces a distinctive maroon-striped, hooded spathe (leaf-like sheath) that surrounds a spike or spadix. After it blooms in springtime, the spathe withers to reveal berries that ripen to bright red in late summer. Jack in the pulpit grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and prefers consistently moist soil.

Nodding Onion

• Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) is a native wild onion that is found occasionally in woodlands throughout the mountains and Piedmont areas. This plant bears clusters of delicate, pink flowers at the end of tall stems that bend toward the ground. Nodding onion grows about 1 to 2 feet tall with long, narrow leaves. It prefers full to part sun and rich, moist soil. Nodding onion grows in USDA zones 3 to 10. Although the bulb was once steamed and eaten by Native Americans, nodding onion is not recommended for human consumption; however, it is eaten by squirrels and bears and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Turk’s Cap Lily

• Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum) is found in moist meadows and woodlands throughout the mountains. It grows more than 3 feet tall and is typically covered with dozens of nodding, brightly colored flowers from late June through early September. The distinctive orange and yellow flower petals curve backward and are covered with brownish-red spots. Turk’s cap lily prefers full sun to part shade and rich, moist soil. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 9.

Dwarf Iris

• Dwarf iris (Iris verna) is commonly found throughout North Carolina from the coastal plains to the mountains. Dwarf iris produces fragrant blooms from March to May. Flowers are bluish-purple with yellow near the base and carried on leafless stems about 3 to 4 inches tall. Long, narrow leaves appear after blooming and grow about a foot tall. Dwarf iris grows from spreading rhizomes and tolerates dry or moist, acidic soils. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 9.