Erythronium dens-canis Purple King

Erythronium dens-canis 'Purple King' is a very pretty little bulbous plant that is not well-known among gardeners, despite its obvious charm and cold resistance. This dog's tooth violet offers a delicate spring flowering, which takes the form of purple-pink pendant flowers with violet stamens, tinged with purple and ochre at the throat. They are even more spectacular when planted in groups for a beautiful mass effect, or  with other spring bulbs or perennials. To succeed in its cultivation, plant it in partial shade, in rich, well-draining soil that is not too dry.

Erythronium dens-canis belongs to a genus that includes about 27 species distributed worldwide. All these plants belong to the Liliaceae family, just like lilies. They are from the undergrowth and thrive in humiferous, rich, light, moist but not waterlogged, acidic, neutral or not excessively calcareous soils. Erythronium dens-canis, of European mountain origin, does not appreciate heatwaves or long dry summers.

'Purple King' takes a little while to establish and its bulb doesn't like to be disturbed or kept dry for too long. The plant forms two leaves from spring, from which a flower stem will emerge, not exceeding 15cm (6in) in height. The somewhat soft and 'fleshy' thick leaves are ovate to oblong in shape, lanceolate, and sheathing at the base. The glaucous green lamina is shiny and strongly marbled and variegated with purple-brown and light green. In March-April, reddish-brown flower stems appear, each carrying a solitary flower hanging towards the ground, with 6 recurved petals, revealing 6 long violet-tinged stamens. The white bulb is cylindrical, pointed and curved at one end, resembling a large canine tooth. For this reason, erythroniums are sometimes called 'dog's tooth'. The foliage dries up during summer, which corresponds to the bulb's dormant period. The flowering is followed by the formation of small black and ochre seeds that will be exclusively dispersed by ants.

Due to the disturbance of its habitat, and perhaps also due to the desire of rare plant enthusiasts, this dog's tooth erythronium has become quite rare in the wild. It has given rise to lovely horticultural forms, like 'Purple King', which are not easily found in commerce. It is a charming plant, which you should plant as soon as you receive your order as the bulbs do not like to be out of the ground for too long. It is a low-maintenance plant that settles easily in the garden and naturalises where it likes. It is best to leave the bulbs in place. They will flower for many years if you provide them with a place in the understory, under deciduous trees, or near an east-facing wall, in soil that does not dry out excessively. In summer, a straw mulch will prevent water evaporation and maintain a slight humidity. Plant 'Purple King' with wood hyacinths (Scilla nutans), Anemone blanda, hepaticas, or primroses that appreciate the same environments. You can plant the bulbs in a pot, keeping the substrate always slightly moist, even in summer when the plant is dormant.