This mid- to late-spring bloomer bears yellow blossoms atop a trio of leaves often mottled with a paler shade of silvery-green. It is faintly fragrant of lemon oil, and grows to about 14 inches tall.
Noteworthy CharacteristicsMost trilliums are native to woodlands and scrub of North America. Groups of them make an elegant understory planting in a woodland or shady naturalized area. Trilliums go dormant in summer, so plant them with other shade-loving perennials to share their place until they reappear the following spring.
CareProvide rich, moist, but well-drained soil with a neutral to acidic pH. Plant in full to part shade. Mulch annually with rich organic matter.
PropagationTrilliums propagate readily by division when plants are dormant in late summer or early fall.
ProblemsSmut, rust, fungal spots, slugs, snails
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
- Genus : Trillium
- Plant Height : 1 to 3 feet
- Zones : 5, 6, 7
- Plant Width : 6 to 12 inches
- Characteristics : Fragrant Flowers, Self Seeds, Showy Foliage
- Uses : Ground Covers, Shade
- Bloom Time : Late Spring
- Maintenance : Low
- Moisture : Medium Moisture
- Growth Rate : Moderate
- Light : Partial Shade to Full Shade
- Plant Type : Perennials
- Plant Seasonal Interest : Spring Interest
- Flower Color : Yellow
Plant Characteristics are only available to Fine Gardening members
Sign up for a free trial and get instant access to our complete plant guide as well as our entire collection of articles and videos.