Trillium flexipes
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um FLEKS-ih-pees
- Description
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White Trillium is a native perennial wildflower in the lily family. Native to North Carolina, it is found in the mountains in moist coves over mafic or calcareous rocks. It prefers dappled shade and moist, high organic matter, loamy soils with a layer of leaf litter to maintain moisture and temperatures. Most of its growth occurs in early spring before the over-canopy trees leaf out. Showy white three-petaled flowers appear mid to late spring in woodland areas. It is dormant by mid-summer. NC Significantly Rare/Historical species.
Pedicellate flowers are up to 2 inches across, white and 3-petaled and often nod beneath the large bracts on recurved stems. The plant forms clumps over time. Plant in woodland or naturalized areas. This plant will not do well in hot summer areas.
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:
- flexipes
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Trilliums have been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central U.S.A., southern Ontario
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NY , OH , PA , SD , TN , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers. Moths use this plant as a larval host. Ants and small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- 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 dispersed by ants. In North Carolina, the red fruits are available in July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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:
- Three petaled 1 1/2" -2" long single flower on a nodding peduncle, 3 green sepals, and 6 stamens. Flowers appear mid-late spring; April in North Carolina. Pedicellate flowers often nod beneath the leaves. Flowers are rarely reddish.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 6 1/2" long green leaves that are actually bracts have entire margins. Three leaves whorled around a stem. The tip is blunt and the base is wedge-shaped with parallel veins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green and hairless stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
