Dog's-tooth violet

Erythronium dens-canis

In other languages: Hondstand (Nederlands) · Érythrone dent-de-chien (Français)

Dog’s-tooth violet is a small bulb from the woods and mountain slopes of southern and central Europe. A flowering plant forms two broad leaves with striking purple-brown blotches and, in March–April, a single nodding flower on a stem of 10–15 cm. The pink to purple, sometimes white petals curve sharply backwards, so the flower looks a little like a small cyclamen. The name refers to the white, elongated bulb, which is shaped like a dog’s tooth. Well-known cultivars are ‘Pink Perfection’, ‘Purple King’ and the white ‘Snowflake’.

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Partial shade or shade
tolerates little sun
Moisture
Normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand, loam or peat
acid to neutral
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -25 °C
Size
0.15 m
tall, 0.1 m wide
Flowering
March–April

Key facts
Height	0.15 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	March–April

Identify

Dog's-tooth violet: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Low bulb, 10–15 cm, with one or two leaves and one flower stem per bulb.
Leaves: Broadly lance-shaped, grey-green with purple-brown blotches; die back in early summer.
Flower: A single nodding flower with six swept-back petals, in March and April.
Colour: Pink, lilac or purple, sometimes white.
Bulb: White, elongated and pointed like a dog’s tooth; dries out quickly.

Flowering: March–April · Plants: September–October

In your garden

Why grow it?

A gem for the shade border: both the flower and the mottled leaves are ornamental.
Flowers early in spring, when trees and shrubs are still bare.
Bees and bumblebees visit the early flowers.
Slowly spreads into lovely groups under shrubs.
Ideal for a woodland garden, together with other spring flowers.

Dog's-tooth violet: where does it grow best?

Partial to full shade, under deciduous trees and shrubs; no hot midday sun.
Humus-rich, loose soil: sand, loam or peaty soil, acid to neutral.
Moist, also in summer: the bulbs must not dry out, but must not stand in stagnant water either.
Plant in small groups, 10 cm apart, in a spot you do not dig often.

Light: Partial shade and shade
Soil type: Sand, loam or peat
Acidity: Acid or neutral
Moisture: Normal
Size: 0.15 m tall, 0.1 m wide
Hardiness: Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

Lenten rose: Flowers at the same time in the same partial shade.
Wood anemone: A white carpet under trees, on the same humus-rich soil.
Lungwort: Also has spotted leaves, with pink to blue flowers in March–April.
Barrenwort: Ground cover for the same shady spots.
Ferns: Fill the space when the dog’s-tooth violet disappears in summer.

Maintenance

Dog's-tooth violet: when and how to plant it?

Plant in September–October.

Plant in September or October, as soon as possible after buying, because the bulbs dry out quickly.
Choose firm bulbs packed in moist material, or pot-grown plants.
Loosen the soil and mix in leaf mould or compost.
Plant the bulbs 10 cm deep, pointed end up, and 10 cm apart.
Water in and add a thin layer of leaf mould as a mulch.

Care

Water: Keep the soil lightly moist, also in summer while the plant is dormant; water during prolonged drought.
Feeding: A layer of leaf mould or compost in autumn or February; no chemical fertiliser needed.
Leaves: Let the leaves yellow naturally after flowering; they disappear in May–June.
Peace and quiet: Do not dig around the plants and avoid moving them: they do best when left undisturbed.

Tip: Buy the bulbs as early as possible and plant them the same day, 10 cm deep, in humus-rich soil under shrubs: dried-out bulbs will not come up.

Dog's-tooth violet: when to prune it?

When: Dog’s-tooth violet is not pruned.

How:

Let the leaves die back after flowering; they feed the bulb for next year.
Remove spent flowers if you do not want seed, or leave them so that it self-seeds.
Clear away the withered leaves in summer.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division: In August–September, while the plant is dormant, carefully lift crowded groups, separate the new bulbs and replant them straight away.
Seed: Sow fresh seed in summer in a pot of humus-rich compost and stand it outdoors; it germinates after winter. Seedlings take several years to flower.

Dog's-tooth violet: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

Hardy to about −25 °C: in Belgium no protection is needed.
A layer of leaf mould in autumn protects and feeds the bulbs.
In a pot: keep the pot sheltered in the shade and do not let the compost dry out or become waterlogged.

Diseases and pests

Fails to appear: Usually the bulbs had dried out. Buy fresh, firm bulbs and plant them the same day.
Slugs: Eat leaves and flowers. Pick them off in the evening.
Few flowers: Young or recently moved bulbs produce only leaves at first. Leave them undisturbed and make sure the soil does not dry out in summer.
Rot: In wet, compacted soil the bulbs rot. Work leaf mould and some coarse sand into the soil.

Through the year

February: Scatter a layer of leaf mould around the plants.
March: Leaves and flowers appear. Watch for slugs.
April: Flowering.
May: Let the leaves yellow.
June: Dormant. Do not let the soil dry out.
August: Divide crowded groups. Order new bulbs.
September: Plant fresh bulbs, 10 cm deep.
October: Plant. Add a layer of leaf mould.

Use

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

The species name dens-canis means ‘dog’s tooth’ and refers to the shape of the white bulb.
A related Japanese species was once used to make the starch katakuriko; today it is mostly made from potatoes.
On warm, sunny days the petals curve back further than in cold weather.

Garden plants · All species