| Description | Red Trillium (Trillium erecta) is a wild flower found growing in the shaded, moist, cool areas of the deciduous forest. One attractive feature of this plant is the mottling on the foliage. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | All Plants, Wild Flowers, Site author's observations |
| Sunlight | semi-shade to shade |
| Moisture | average to moist |
| Soil & Site | humus rich, woodsy, prefers a ph of 4-5 tolerates to 6 |
| Flowers | The single, dark purplish red flower is found in the middle of the leaf whorl. The bracts resemble clasping hands. Blooms in May. Flowers are ill smelling, this is to attract the main pollinator a "Green Fleshy Fly". |
| Leaves | Three broad ovate leaves are mottled with dark markings. The mottling seems to be pronounced on the younger plants. Forms a whorl on top of a single thin stem. |
| Stems | single stem, can be red |
| Dimensions | 8-16 inches, found as single plants or in colonies |
| Propagation | Root division or seeds. The seeds need to be cold stratified. Just plant the seeds in the garden after harvest and let Mother Nature do the stratification. |
| Misc Facts | AKA: Purple Trillium, Wake Robin |
| Author's Notes | I have been observing a group of these plants for over 25 years. From a few plants they have developed a large colony. To me the foliage is one of the most attractive features of this plant. I have seen these plants growing in association with Wild Ginger, other Trilliums, Yellow trout Lily, and Spring Beauty. Easy in cultivation if the cultural requirement are met. |
| Notes & Reference | #09-The Prairie Garden (J. Robert Smith with Beatrice Smith), #41-Wildflowers of Wisconsin (Stan Teikiela), #100-Wildflowers of Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest (Merel Black and Emmet Judziewicz) |
Cart
