Premise of the study: Climate change is making spring arrive earlier than in the past, causing some species to alter the timing of their spring activities. This study addressed whether Erythronium americanum Ker Gawl. (trout lily), a common spring ephemeral, can hasten its spring emergence if exposed to early spring warming. Methods: I collected corms of E. americanum in the fall, overwintered them in soil, and exposed them to warming in either mid (early treatment) or late (late treatment) February. The timing of leaf emergence was monitored and compared between treatments. Key results: Leaves exposed to early warming emerged earlier than those in the late treatment. Bud break happened closer to date of exposure to warming in the late treatment than in the early treatment. Conclusions: Spring ephemerals may be able to produce leaves early in response to early spring warming induced by climate change. Risk of late frost and eventual shading by the canopy may limit the duration of a potentially extended growing season. Please be aware that if you ask to have your user record removed, we will retain your name in the records concerning manuscripts for which you were an author, reviewer, or editor. In compliance with data protection regulations, you may request that we remove your personal registration details at any time. (Use the following URL: https://www.editorialmanager.com/ajb/login.asp?a=r). Please contact the publication office if you have any questions.