Trillium undulatum
Painted Trillium
a perennial member of the Trillium genus in the family Trilliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Trilliaceae
- Genus
- Trillium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.2 m
- Spread
- 0.2 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - cooked. The young unfolding leaves make a good potherb[4].
- 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.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The flowers, sepals and leaves have been eaten to accelerate the delivery of a child[10].
- Product or use
- Oxytoxic
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Georgia and Missouri.
- Habitat
- Humus-rich soils in moist woodland and scrub[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a shaded cold frame as soon as it is ripe[2][6]. 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[3], whilst yet another report says that the seed can take 3 years to germinate[9]. The seedlings are prone to damp off and must therefore be watered with care and given plenty of fresh air[3]. 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[3]. Division with care when the plants die down after flowering[6]. 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
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a deep well-drained woodland or humus-rich soil in a somewhat shady position that remains moist in the summer[1][11]. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil[6]. Grows well in open woodland[1]. Succeeds in deep shade[5]. Succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out[11]. Any transplanting is best done whilst the plants are in flower[6]. Plants can flower in two years from seed[3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[7], though slugs are very fond of the leaves[9].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00