Triteleia spp.
triplet lily
Overview
Triteleia 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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'4"
Width/Spread3" - 6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue, violet, white, or yellowFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
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