Explore Cornell - Home Gardening - Flower Growing Guides

[+] larger image

Trillium

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as White Wake Robin
Trillium grandiflorum
Liliaceae Family

This wildflower makes a wonderful spring addition to woodland gardens and naturalized areas. Native populations in the Northeast threatened due to habitat loss and human harvesting. Only purchase cultivated plants that were not harvested from the wild.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil

Prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil with slightly acid pH.

Hardiness zones:

3 to 9

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: moderately difficult

This is the easiest to grow of all of the Trilliums species.

Height: 1 to 1.5 feet

Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet

Bloom time: late spring

Flower color: white

Pure white blooms have three distinctive petals, turning pink and becoming slightly pendulous with time.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: same as above

The flowers are borne at the same level as the foliage.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
native to North America - Eastern North America

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Propagation is very difficult, and is best achieved by leaving plants undisturbed to naturally form clumps. Divide in early spring or late summer. Only purchase Trillium that you are certain has not been harvested from the wild.

Maintenance and care:

Once planted, leave the plants undisturbed.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties

var. roseum: pink blooms.
�Flore Pleno�: white blooms are double and showy.
var. pumilum: dwarf 8� to 12" tall plants with white blooms.