White Trillium
Growth Habit
HerbaceousPropagation
Seed Treatment and Storage: Keep seeds moist. Needs warm+moist/cold+moist stratification. It may be 2-3 years until growth appears above ground (first year post germination is underground development); 5-8 years to flower.
Biocultural Value
Although it has been recorded that young, unfolding trillium plants can be eaten, these scarce and precious wildflowers should not be gathered for food purposes except in cases of emergency. Trillium roots are highly emetic. The Chippewa applied a decoction of white trillium roots to aching joints and dropped it in sore ears, while the Menominee prescribed the root for issues among menstruating women.
Wildlife Value
Trillium seeds are dispersed by ants, who take the fruit to their underground homes, eat the flesh (elaisome) and discard the seed. White-tailed deer readily browse the foliage and flowers of Trillium species and seem to favor white trillium in particular, perhaps because they can see the flowers.
Poisonous
NoLocation
Mundy Wildflower Garden, Fischer Old-growth Forest, Slaterville 600, McDaniel Meadow, Woods, and Swamp, Purvis Road Wetlands Natural Area, Ringwood Ponds, Tarr-Young PreserveCultivation
A 10-12" tall plant with a stalked white flower that turns pink with age.
Light: shade to part sun
Moisture and Soil: medium moisture, rich soil
Description
T. grandiflorum is native to rich woods and thickets from Quebec to Ontario to Minnesota south to Alabama and Georgia. Leaves, petals and sepals all come in groups of three. From an underground rhizome, a stout, unbranched, naked stem rises in spring to 8-18" tall topped by an apical whorl of three prominently-veined, ovate to egg-shaped, green leaves (each typically to 3-4" long but sometimes to 6"). From the center of the leaf whorl emerges a single flower in April or May on an erect to leaning stalk rising above the leaves to 2-3" tall. Each flower (to 3 1/2" across) has three flaring, ovate, wavy-edged, white petals subtended by three smaller green sepals. Flower petals are reflexed at the tips. Flowers acquire pink tones with age. Flowers give way to berry-like capsules. Seeds are disbursed by ants. Foliage will usually die to the ground by late summer, particularly if soils are allowed to dry.
Source of plant
Cornell Botanic Gardens, Sunshine Farm & Gardens
