The best known Erythronium comes in white pink and lilac. All three forms have exquisite flowers, with back-arched petals revealing long long stamens. Leaves are  broad and mottled with brown, and they grow in pairs. At about 40cm (16"), this is a tall Erythronium.

Native to woodlands in Southern Europe, it likes shade, humidity and moist, leafy soil. Adding leaf mould or duff to your soil will help it come back every year. 

Erythronium dens-canis - also called Dog's Tooth Violet - is named after the shape of its roots. 

Cultivars include Erythronium dens-canis 'Moerheimii', which has deep purple semi-double flowers (rare); Erythronium dens-canis 'Snowflake', which is white, 'Pink Perfection' (pink), 'Purple King', 'Old Aberdeen' (deep purple) and 'Lilac Wonder' which flowers earlier than all these.