Trillium

Trilliums are herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). In North Carolina, they are found in the mountains with a few in the coastal and Piedmont areas. They are frequently found in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of the southeastern United States, and some are native to western North America while others are found in Asia. The genus name is derived from the Latin word trilix, meaning “triple,” highlighting the fact that the bracts and flower parts are normally in threes.

Trilliums are hardy from zones 5 to 8. They prefer moist, rich, loamy, or humus-rich soils with good drainage, a neutral pH, and partial to full shade. It is best to plant trilliums in areas that do not have afternoon sun and where they can be provided moisture during the growing season and drier soil when they are dormant. Trillium seedlings take 2 or 3 years to develop their characteristic three-leaf structure, so if you see long, thin leaves poking out of the soil around your trillium, don't pull them out! It may take 7 or more years for a trillium to grow from seed to a mature, blooming plant. “Bargain” trilliums are almost always poached from the wild. It is best to purchase plants only from reputable dealers. Seeds are dispersed by ants and ground-nesting wasps, such as yellow jackets. Deer love to eat trilliums.

Trilliums emerge in March in the eastern United States and linger until the end of April. Blooms are seen about the first of April. Strictly speaking, all the above-ground parts of the plant are inflorescence. The “stem” is the scape (leafless peduncle), and the “leaves” are inflorescence bracts below the flower. The flowers have 3 petals of various colors, and the bracts are often mottled. There are two major groups of Trilliums: those with the flower held above the bracts on a stem and those without stems or sessile. Flowers can be large and showy or small and drab. 

Use these plants in the shade garden for spring color, under trees, or in woodland sites (deer exclosures are useful). They are slow to spread but long-lived. Be sure to preserve trilliums that may be found in the wild!

Quick ID Hints:

• the stem is an extension of the horizontal rhizome and produces tiny scale-like leaves
• larger “leaves” are green or mottled and are the bracts of the flower
• the “leaves” are simple, oval, and appear in whorls of three
• blooms are solitary with 3 petals and 3 bracts
• flower size varies depending on the species

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems.  Slugs and snails are occasional pests and leaf spots, rust and smut are occasional disease problems. It does not transplant well.

Additional Trillium Images at Juniper Level Botanic Garden