Overview
Trillium grandiflorum is a long-lived woodland perennial native to eastern North America, growing 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall from a thick underground rhizome. Each stem carries a single whorl of three broad, net-veined leaves 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) long, above which one flower opens in mid to late spring. The flower has three white petals 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long with wavy edges; the petals fade to pink as they age over one to two weeks. Plants are slow to develop, taking seven or more years to flower from seed, and a single rhizome can live for decades. The seeds carry an oily appendage that ants collect and carry off, dispersing the plant short distances. T. grandiflorum grows in rich, moist deciduous woodland on neutral to slightly acidic soils, often in large colonies on undisturbed slopes. The foliage yellows and dies back by midsummer, leaving the plant dormant until the following spring. Deer graze it heavily, and repeated browsing can wipe out local colonies.
Native Range
Trillium grandiflorum is native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south through the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia, and west to Minnesota. It grows in rich, moist deciduous woodland and on shaded slopes, often in extensive colonies.Suggested Uses
Trillium grandiflorum is grown in native woodland and shade gardens in rich soil, where it can form long-lived spring colonies. It suits naturalized plantings beneath deciduous trees that leaf out after it blooms. It pairs with other spring woodland plants such as ferns and Sanguinaria canadensis.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'6"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in mid to late spring, roughly April to May, as the woodland canopy leafs out. The white three-petaled flowers last one to two weeks and gradually flush pink before fading. By midsummer the foliage yellows and the plant goes dormant.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white aging to pinkFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight