Trillium luteum

Trillium luteum (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial shade to shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Melanthiaceae

Trillium luteum is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves have silver/ green mottling, are obtuse to rounded with and entire margins, appear in groups of three and are up to 15cm long. Its fragrant yellow flowers contain three petals, each petal being up to 5cm long and appear terminally. Its roots are thick rhizomes which aids its spread.

Trillium luteum Leaf (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Trillium luteum, commonly known as Yellow Wood Trillium, Yellow Wakerobin, is native to east North America. In its native habitat it grows as a ground cover below deciduous trees. Trillium luteum synonymous with Trillium sessile var. luteum.

The etymological root of the binomial name Trillium is derived from the Latin triplum meaning ‘triple’, referring to the three-parted flowers common to the genus. Luteum is from the Latin meaning ‘yellow’.

The landscape architect may find Trillium luteum useful as a low growing ground cover plant suitable for shady locations, particularly under deciduous trees.

Trillium luteum Flower (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Trillium luteum is attractive to pollinating insects. The seed of this plant attracts ants as the elaiosome of the seed evokes their corpse-carrying behavior.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Trillium luteum their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Trillium luteum prefers moist, humus rich fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral pH of soil.

Trillium luteum  requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in late summer to early autumn.



Landscape Architecture

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Dappled to full shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Melanthiaceae

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a spreading habit. Its dark green leaves are almost stalk-less, ovate to rhombic with an acuminate tip and entire margins, are up to 20cm long and 20cm broad and appear in groups of three. Its deep red flowers contain three petals, are up to 9cm across and small of rotting meat. Its fruit are dark maroon and up to 15mm across.  Its roots are fleshy rhizomes.

The species Trillium erectum, commonly known as Wake Robin, Red Trillium, Purple Trillium, Beth Root or Stinking Benjamin, is native to east and north east North America. In its native habitat it grows in deciduous forests.

The etymological root of the binomial name Trillium is derived from the Latin triplum meaning ‘triple’, referring to the three-parted flowers common to the genus. Erectum is from the Latin meaning ‘erect’.

The landscape architect may find Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ useful as a low growing ground cover plant in shady locations, particularly in woodland locations.

Ecologically, Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ is attractive to flies which enjoy the smell or rotting meat. It attracts ants as the elaiosome of the seed will evoke their corpse-carrying behavior, their seeds are also spread by wasps and Harvestmen.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given the species Trillium erectum their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ Flower (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil.

Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty’ requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided after flowering.

Trillium chloropetalum

Trillium chloropetalum (21/04/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial shade to shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Melanthiaceae

Trillium chloropetalum is a fast growing, clump forming, herbaceous perennial. Its dark green mottled leaves are obtuse to rounded with and entire margins, appear in groups of three and are up to 20cm long. Its flowers vary greatly in colour from dark red to white, contain three petals, each petal being up to 10cm long. Its roots are thick rhizomes which aids its spread.

Trillium chloropetalum Flower (21/04/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Trillium chloropetalum, commonly known as Common Trillium, Giant Trillium, Giant Wake Robin, Wood Lily, Trinity Flower or Sessile Trillium, is native to the west coast of the USA. In its native habitat it grows as a ground cover to the edge of Redwood forests.

The etymological root of the binomial name Trillium is derived from the Latin triplum meaning ‘triple’, referring to the three-parted flowers common to the genus. Chloropetalum may derived from the Latin chlora meaning ’emerald’ and petalum meaning ‘paving’, i.e paved with emerald. Many references state chloropetalum means ‘green petaled’, but I can not substantiate this.

The landscape architect may find Trillium chloropetalum useful as a low growing ground cover plant in shady locations, particularly in woodlands.

Trillium chloropetalum Leaf (19/04/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Trillium chloropetalum is attractive to pollinating insects. It attracts ants as the elaiosome of the seed will evoke their corpse-carrying behavior, their seeds are also spread by wasps and Harvestmen.

Trillium chloropetalum prefers moist, humus rich fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral  pH of soil.

Trillium chloropetalum  requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in late summer to early autumn.