UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for April 2008:

Trillium

Submitted by Becky Koepke

An eye-catching woodland plant, trillium is a great addition to the spring garden. It is among the first plants to bloom in the spring and thus provides inspiration for gardeners impatient for the growing season.

The visible parts of the plant consist of three bracts that look like leaves with a three petaled flower above the bracts. The bracts can be a solid green, but sometimes they have a mottled look. Depending on the species, the flower color ranges from white to burgundy to yellow. Trillium will bloom for 2 to 3 weeks before the tree canopy fills in above them, then they produce seeds into the summer.

Different trillium grow from 6 to 18 inches tall, depending on the species. They are slow to spread. The plant grows from a rhizome, but it does not spread by the rhizome. New plants take root from seed. Gardeners who grow trilliums from seed learn patience as the plants can take several years to flower.

Trillium generally prefer a fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil and grow best in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade. They also thrive in the bright shade beneath deciduous trees or very tall conifers. The hot afternoon sun burns their foliage and in heavy shade they will not flower well. Fertilization is usually unnecessary if the proper conditions are provided.

With its distinct three “leaves,” trilliums are unique in the landscape and draw the eye. Combinations with other woodland plants such as bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, or Christmas fern create a natural look. As trilliums are poor competitors, do not plant any aggressive species nearby.

Many species of trillium are popular and native to Tennessee. White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) has a large white flower (2 to 4 inches across) that turns pink with age. Yellow Trillium (Trillium cuneatum), as the name implies, has a yellow flower that is much smaller and less showy than White Trillium. Wakerobin (Trillium erectum) is one of the most common trilliums and is a variable plant. The flower colors range from red to white (red being the most common). They tend to measure between 1 to 2 inches across.

Trilliums are suffering from habitat loss and poachers. Transplanted trilliums often do not recover well, so growth from seed is recommended. Legally harvested and grown plants are available at many plant nurseries. Picking flowers from trilliums is heartily discouraged as it deprives the plant of nutrients collected by the above-ground parts. This can result in the plant’s death.

Becky Koepke is a graduate research assistant in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. She is studying under Dr. Sue Hamilton, associate professor and director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station and in 2007 the Gardens are celebrating their Silver Anniversary. On the Web at http://utgardens.tennessee.edu

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Contact:

Patricia C. McDaniels, (865) 974-7141