Practical
Plants

Trillium grandiflorum

White Trillium

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.4 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - cooked and used like spinach[16][17][2][6]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[5].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The root is diuretic[13]. The raw root is grated and applied as a poultice to the eye in order to reduce swelling[9][10]. The raw root s also used as a poultice on aching rheumatic joints[13]. A decoction of the root bark can be used as drops in treating a sore ear[13]. The grated root is steeped in water and drunk as a tea for the treatment of cramps[9]. The grated root is simmered in water and drunk for the treatment of irregular menses[9][10].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine to Ontario, south to Georgia and Arkansas.
Habitat
Rich woods and thickets, usually on limestone[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a shaded cold frame as soon as it is ripe[3][8]. Stored seed should be sown in late winter or early spring. Seed usually germinates within 1 - 3 months at 15°c. Another report says that seeds produce a root after the first cold stratification but no shoot is produced until after a second winter[4], whilst yet another report says that the seed can take 3 years to germinate[12]. The seedlings are prone to damp off and must therefore be watered with care and given plenty of fresh air[4]. The young plants need to be overwintered in a cold frame for the first year and can then be planted out in late spring. It is very important that the pots become neither too dry nor too wet[4]. Division with care when the plants die down after flowering[8]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the following spring.

Cultivation

Prefers a deep well-drained woodland or humus-rich soil in a somewhat shady position that remains moist in the summer[1][14]. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil but succeeds in acid or limey soils[8]. Grows well in open woodland[1][18]. Succeeds in deep shade[7]. Succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out[14][4]. A very ornamental and long-lived plant[1][4][11]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[11], though slugs are very fond of the leaves[12]. A polymorphic species, it is very subject to mutation[18]. Some named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[8]. Any transplanting is best done whilst the plants are in flower[8]. Plants can flower in two years from seed[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  11. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  18. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page