Shrinking Violets

Spring-flowering bulbs like snowdrops, daffodils and anemones are the stalwarts of a woodland garden, but if you want something a little bit more choice to add to the mix, look no further than erythroniums. Also known as dog’s tooth violets because the white, elongated bulbs resemble canine fangs, these woodland stars, a member of the lily family, are the epitome of garden elegance, with slender upright stems topped by exotic-looking flowers held above clumps of broad, wavy leaves, which are often beautifully patterned. When the flowers first emerge, they dangle from the stems like tiffany lampshades.