Trillium recurvatum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Trillium recurvatum f. luteum
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um rek-er-VAY-tum
- Description
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Prairie Trillium is a native wildflower found in forest and woodland areas in the central and eastern U.S.A. growing in the rich soils of cove forests over calcareous rocks. It is a NC Significantly Rare species.
The maroon 3-petaled sessile flowers appear above the mottled bracts in spring. The plant can take up to 10 years to bloom and usually go dormant by mid-summer. They slowly spread by rhizomes to form colonies.
Plant in humus-rich moist soils in part shade to dappled sunlight in a woodland setting. They can be naturalized under trees.
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:
- recurvatum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Trilliums have been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MI , MO , MS , NC , OH , OK , PA , TN , TX , WI
- 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: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The 6-parted berry-like capsule is pale to purplish-green and is available from July to August. Seeds are dispersed by ants.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- 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:
- Maroonish three-petaled flowers that bloom mid to late spring. The rhombic-elliptic shaped petals curve inward at the tips. In North Carolina, the flowers bloom from April to May. Up to 1.75 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Three mottled dark and light green leaves that are actually bracts are 3-6" long 1 1/2" and 3 1/2" wide. Under surfaces are solid light green. Parallel leaf venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green to reddish purple, round, smooth and stout.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
