Dog's tooth violets are amongst the most popular spring bulbs, with their characteristic flowers with sharply recurved petals, often with patterned foliage. They appear through the ground late and retreat early, but in the process often replace one bulb by two or more, and some set seed. Drifts of them are a fine sight. The English name (and Latin name of one species) reflects the shape of the bulb, supposedly like a dog's tooth. In some cases the dog must be the size of a small horse. Anyone for Erythronium dens-donki?

Erythronium californicum 'White Beauty' is actually pale creamy yellow, yellow in the centre and with a dark red ring, but it is a beauty. The leaves are mottled with a creamy pattern, and in a cool place it steadily multiplies.