Southern Red Trillium Trillium sulcatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um sul-KAY-tum
- Description
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Southern red trillium is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the trillium family (Melanthiaceae) found in moist mountainous woodland areas in the eastern and central U.S.A., including NC. It particularly likes the growing over sedimentary rock of the Appalachian Mountains. The species epithet, Latin for sulcate, describes the keel-like crease in the tips of the sepals and petals.
Plant the southern red trillium in partial to full shade in humus-rich acidic to neutral moist soils.
The flower is usually maroon but can be purple, white, yellow or bi-colored. The flower is held on a curved stem above the large bracts. The sepals are green but may have maroon streaks. Both the sepals and petals are keeled and boat-shaped. The bloom has a faint, not unpleasant, musty smell, like fresh mushrooms. Small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source. It is the larval host plant for the black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis).
This species is suitable for a shady woodland garden or a native plant or pollinator garden.
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:
- sulcatum
- 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.
- Distribution:
- AL, GA, KY, NC, TN, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source. Host plant for larvae of black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis).
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 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:
- The 6-parted red-maroon berry-like capsules are available from July to August in North Carolina.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Description:
- White, yellow, purple, bi-colored but usually maroon three-petaled flowers with three green sepals and a purple ovary on a curved stem. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from April to May. Flowers have a fetid odor. Sepals "canoe-tipped'.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The green leaves or bracts are sharply pointed at the tip and obovate in shape. They grow in a whorl on the stem. They are up to 8 inches long and wide.
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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:
- Unbranched green stem
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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
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Malodorous
