Triteleia grandiflora (large-flowered triteleia)

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Triteleia spp.

triplet lily

Asparagaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 6–10

Overview

Triteleia spp. is a genus of about 15 species of cormous perennials in the family Asparagaceae, native to western North America. Plants grow from a fibrous-coated corm and produce one or two narrow, grass-like basal leaves that often wither by flowering time. A leafless stalk 8-28 inches (20-70 cm) tall carries an open umbel of funnel- to star-shaped flowers in late spring and summer. Flower colour ranges across blue, violet, white, and yellow depending on species, with six tepals and stamens set at the throat. After flowering the plants enter summer dormancy, dying back to the corm during the dry season typical of their Mediterranean-type climate. Species grow in grassland, open woodland, and vernally moist flats that dry hard in summer. Triteleia laxa, Ithuriel's spear, is grown as an ornamental bulb and cut flower. The genus needs a dry summer rest and rots in soils that stay wet while dormant.

Native Range

Native to western North America, from British Columbia south through California and east to Idaho and Utah, growing in grassland, chaparral, and open woodland.

Suggested Uses

Grown in rock gardens, meadow and grassland plantings, and mixed borders with dry summers, and as a cut flower. Suited to containers given a dry dormant period.

How to Identify

One or two narrow, grass-like basal leaves arise from an underground corm and often wither by bloom. A bare stalk holds an open umbel of funnel- to star-shaped six-tepalled flowers in blue, violet, white, or yellow. Papery bracts subtend the flower cluster.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'4"

Width/Spread3" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer, roughly April to June. Each umbel opens over one to three weeks, with flowers held on slender pedicels. Seed capsules ripen as the foliage dies back into summer dormancy.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue, violet, white, or yellow

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to light shade in well-drained soils and need moisture through autumn, winter, and spring followed by a dry summer rest. Corms rot in ground that stays wet during dormancy, so sharp drainage matters in summer-rainfall regions. They are propagated by seed or by offset cormlets separated when dormant. Established plantings naturalise in grassland and rock gardens where summers are dry. Gophers and slugs are the main pests.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flower stalks can be removed after seed is set, and faded foliage left to die back naturally to feed the corm.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic