Trillium Time – Round 1

Our world renown trillium collection has now topped 1,800 different, selected taxa. Below are a few photos from the earliest round of flowering. For us, peak trillium season is typically late March, but due to our cool daytime high temperatures this winter, we are about 2.5 weeks behind normal. Our focus in the genus Trillium, are species from the Southeast US, since those from other regions tend not to thrive here.

Trillium can be divided into two groups. The first group are those whose flower sits directly on the leaves (sessile). The second are those, which have a short stem, that connects the petals to the leaf, known as a pedicle (pedicellate). The typical flower color of most of the sessile species is purple-red, while three species, Trillium discolor, Trillium luteum, and Trillium oostingii, are typically yellow-flowered. We are always on the look out for aberrant forms, which includes silver-foliage forms of typically patterned leaf species, and yellow-flowered forms of typically purple-red flowered species. Many trillium species remain solitary, or nearly so, consequently, we highly value clones that offset. A number of our newer selections are our own seedlings, including a number of our own hybrids.

We currently dedicate one acre to trillium production from seed. Our seedlings typically flower 4-5 years after sowing, which is why virtually no other sane nurseries grow trillium from seed. Sadly, almost all other commercial trilliums are wild collected, and are often “laundered” through Holland, which gives those marketing them, plausible deniability that they were wild collected for sale.

Trillium cuneatum is a common sessile type (no stem between the leaf and flower), that has been a taxonomic dumping ground for what appears to be 4-6 different species. True Trillium cuneatum is typically a solitary plant, so discoveries like the offsetting form below are quite valuable in the garden.

Trillium decipiens is one of the earliest species to emerge, often alongside the Florida forms of Trillium underwoodii. It has a taller stem than Trillium underwoodii, but is also a solitary growing species.

Trillium decumbens has a short stem that causes the foliage to appear to lay flat on the ground. Some forms offset, but most are solitary, or nearly so.

Trillium discolor is a naturally yellow flowered species. In part of the range, the flowers are a creamy white, while in the other half of the range, they are lemon yellow. Like Trillium decumbens, it’s a sparse offsetter.

Trillium foetidissum is a great performer for us, and is a species that offsets very well. The typical foliage is very mottled, so finding albino, silver-foliaged forms is quite rare.

Trillium ludovicianum hails from Louisiana, and like Trillium foetidissimum, the foliage is almost always mottled…except for this rare, silver leaf form. Even rarer, is our unilium form, which never flowers, and only produces solitary leaves.

Trillium maculatum has tall petals that are widest toward the tip. While reddish purple is typical, the yellow-flowered forms are highly prized.

Trillium recurvatum is known as the bloody nose toadshade. Yellow-flowered forms are quite rare.

Trillium underwoodii is a solitary species, whose native distribution is centered primarily along the border of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

Trillium sp. nov. elbertianum is one of several recently discovered species we grow, that have yet to be formerly described. This Georgia native has tall, thin petals, and is quite unlike any other species.

Trillium sp. nov. pseudounderwoodii is another, yet unpublished new species from Alabama, that, in form, is between Trillium cuneatum and Trillium underwoodii.

Trillium x freatum are our garden hybrids between Trillium cuneatum x Trillium sp. now. freemanii. These have amazing vigor, and have a wide range of variations.

Below is one of our newer hybrids, a cross of Trillium foetidissimum x Trillium oostingii.

The exceptional hybrid below is our hybrid of Trillum foetidissimum and Trillium ludovicianum. Not only does it have silver foliage, but it’s an excellent offsettter.

The hybrid below is a cross of Trillium ludovicianum and Trillum cuneatum.

Trillium x recurvifolium are our hybrids between Trillium recurvatum and Trillium lancifolium.

The earliest of the pedicilate trilliums for us are those from the Trillium pusillum complex. These dwarf species form nicely offsetting patches.

And to quote the late Mel Blanc, “That’s All Folks”.

← Previous Post