Whip-Poor-Will Flower Trillium cernuum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um SER-new-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Nodding trillium is an herbaceous perennial wildflower found in northeastern North America as far south as northern Virginia. It is a member of the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It is the northernmost trillium and is found in rich, moist woodlands and forest edges. Several varieties and forms have been described, but these are no longer recognized as distinct from the single, widespread species. The species epithet is Latin for “nodding.”
It is a long-lived woodland plant needing humus-rich moist soils and part to full shade. This trillium is not a good choice for the Southeast.
It has one or more unbranched stems that grow from underground rhizomes with a whorl of 3 bracts below the white to rarely pink, 3-petaled flower. The flower is on a curving stem that often hangs below the bracts.
This is a species for woodland gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Slugs and snails are occasional pests and leaf spot, rust and smut are occasional disease problems. It does not transplant well.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trillium
- Species:
- cernuum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Trilliums have been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- northeastern North America
- Distribution:
- CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Young, unfolding leaves HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Cook in boiling, salted water for ten minutes and serve like greens. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Six sectioned reddish berry up to 1.25 inches with small brown seeds each with a protein-rich fleshy elaiosome attached to attract ants to disperse the seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower stalk is bent downward with solitary whitish to pale pink flowers with pink-purple anthers. The petals overlap at the base to form an "s" and recurve upward. Flowers are up to 1.5 inches across and often hidden under the green bracts
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- A whorl of three 3 to 5 in. elliptical leaves that are actually bracts to the flower and recurve upward. Edges are smooth and wavy and the tip is pointed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is smooth, green to greenish-purple and 8 to 16 inches in height
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
