Stephen Albert
Trillium is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial that bears three-petaled purplish-pink to white flowers in spring. The flowers stand erect just above diamond-shaped green leaves.
Trillium thrives in partial shade. It wants humus-rich well-drained soil.
Trillium is suitable for moist, shady borders or woodland gardens.
Trillium is a genus of about 30 species of rhizomatous, deciduous perennials native to mainly woodlands and srub in North America.
Get to know Trillium
- Plant type: Spring-blooming bulb
- Growing Zones and range: Zones 4-8
- Hardiness: Hardy of 0°F (-18°C)
- Height and width: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
- Foliage: Lance-shaped or elliptoic to ovate net veined silver- or purple-marbled leaves
- Flowers: Upright or nodding terminal funnel- or cup-shaped flowrs
- Flower colors: Usually white and pinks, burgundy, and mahogany
- Bloom time: Spring
- Uses: Woodland garden; thrives in shade
- Common name: Trillium, wake-robin
- Botanical name: Trillium spp.
- Family: Liliaceae
- Origin: Scrub and woodland in North America
Where to plant Trillium
- Plant trillium in light to medium shade.
- Grow trillium in humus-rich, moist soil that is neutral to acidic.
- Grows well under deciduous trees and large shrubs.
Trillium uses and companions
- Grow Trillium in moist, well-drained shady places. It is suitable for a shady border or woodland garden.
- Good garden companions for Trillium include Doronicum, Hosta, Mertensia, Polygonatum, Primula, Pulmonaria.
When to plant Trillium
- Set trillium rhizomes in spring or set out established plants.
Planting and spacing Trillium
- Space trillium 1 to 2 feet apart.
- Plant rhizomes 4 inches deep.
- Work ample aged compost into the soil at planting time.
How to water and feed Trillium
- Trillium needs abundant water; keep the soil evenly moist.
- Add aged-compost to planting beds and add aged compost around plants each spring.
Trillium care
- Mulch around trillium to keep the soil evenly moist.
- When trillium is dormant, divide clumps to create new plants.
- Trillium is commonly pest and disease-free.
Trillium propagation
- Divide rhizomes after flowering; this will stimulate formation of new offsets.
- Trillium can be grown from seed but it take about 2 years for germination and another 5 to 7 years before plants flower.
Trillium varieties to grow
- Trillium grandiflora has showy flowers 2-3 inches across.
- Trillium erectum, Trillium sessile, and Trillium chloropetalum grow to 2-feet tall.
