Stinking Willie Trillium erectum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um ee-RECK-tum
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Red trillium is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to North America. It is a member of the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It tends to occur in drier habitats and is typically found on acid soils, in open dry or rich mesic woods, within laurel and rhododendron thickets at mid to high elevations. The species epithet means erect.
Plant in moist, acidic, humus-rich sand, clay, or loam soil with part sun to shade (sun in early spring).
The three-petaled flower is often red to maroon with yellow anthers but can also be pinkish, greenish or yellow. The white-flowered variant is recognized as T. erectum var. album. It occurs on a recurved stem above the large green bracts that can be up to 7 inches long. The flower does not produce nectar, but its fetid odor attracts pollinators such as flies, beetles and fungus gnats. Host plant for larvae of black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis).
Suitable for wooded or naturalized areas. It is very cold hardy but is sensitive to heat.
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:
- var. album
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. album
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trillium
- Species:
- erectum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant has been used in herbal medicine. e American groups used the root of Purple Trillium as an aid to childbirth.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Manitoba, Canada east to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia and Alabama, and north to Illinois and Michigan.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers do not produce nectar; flies are attracted to their fetid odor. Small mammals enjoy the berries as a food source. Host plant for larvae of black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis).
- 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. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 6 parted berry-like capsule with seeds that are dispersed by ants. In North Carolina, fruits are available from July to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2.5-inch 3-petaled flower with a fetid odor is borne on a recurving stem. It may take up to 15 years before a flower is produced from seed. Flowers are often maroon with yellow anthers but can also be pink, greenish-yellow, purple. In North Carolina, flowers are available from April to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Broadly oval to almost diamond-shaped leaves that are actually bracts. They are stalkless to nearly stalkless and whorled on the stem. Up to 7 inches wide with margins that may curl inward
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green to reddish stem is unbranched, round and smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Problems:
- Malodorous
