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How to grow trilliums
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Monday, 4 September 2023 at 1:00 pm
Advice on growing and caring for trilliums, in our Grow Guide.
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Plant Size:
Height: 60
Spread: 30
Trilliums (also known as wood lily and wake robin) are herbaceous, clump-forming perennials with large leaves and gently nodding, solitary flowers which stand on tall stems above the foliage. Trillium flowers tend to be white or shades of burgundy, with the darker-flowered varieties known as 'wake robin' after the robin's red breast. Native to North American woodlands, they thrive in full shade to partial shade. They are commonly used as ground cover and as underplanting for shrubs and roses.
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Trilliums are extremely long lived. Although they can be slow to get going, they last for up to 25 years. By contrast, trillium flowers emerge in early spring and last for around three weeks. Trilliums are not considered invasive.
Bear in mind that trillium plant roots and berries are toxic to humans, cats and dogs, and will cause stomach upset. However their leaves can be eaten and are said to have a nutty flavour, though are more commonly used in medicine as a diuretic and antiseptic.
How to grow trilliums
Grow trilliums in moist but well-drained, neutral-to-acidic soil in partial shade to full shade. Water regularly to help the corms establish, especially during dry weather. Prune out dead, diseased or damaged foliage throughout the growing season and apply an annual mulch of leaf mould or homemade compost in spring.
Where to grow trilliums
Trillium erectum f. albiflorum in a woodland border
Grow trilliums in partial to full shade, ideally in moist but well-drained, neutral-to-acidic soil. Planting between shrubs is said to protect trilliums from wind and other elements, which will keep them flowering for longer.
How to plant trilliums
Trilliums can be planted from dry bulbs (corms) in late summer. Plant them 7-10cm deep and water thoroughly so they establish before temperatures dip in autumn, then continue watering again during the growing season, especially during a dry spell. However, take care not to overwater the plants as trilliums suffer when the soil is waterlogged.
Alternatively, plant trilliums from young plants in spring – this tends to be a more successful method than planting from corms. Plant from mid-spring and keep plants well-watered until they become established, and again water when conditions become dry.
How to care for trilliums
Trillium erectum. Getty Images
Trilliums require little care. Prune out dead, diseased or damaged foliage during the growing season. In spring, it's a good idea to apply a mulch of leaf mould or homemade compost, as this will keep the soil moist and cool.
How to propagate trilliums
Established trillium clumps can be propagated by division after flowering. Simply dig up the plant as the foliage starts to die back and separate it into smaller clumps, ensuring each section has at least one bud and some roots. Grow the cuttings on in pots or the soil, covering the rhizomes with at least 5cm of soil or compost. If you're planting more than one cutting, space them 25cm apart.
You can also grow new trilliums from fresh seed saved from the spent flowers, however this is a long process as the seed goes through a process known as 'double dormancy'. This is where the seed requires a period of chilling (winter) for the root to develop but then another period of heat and cold for the shoot to grow. This means, if you sow ripe seed from your plants in pots of peat-free seed compost and place in a cold frame in shade, they will start to grow as plants in two years' time. Flowering may then occur a further two or three years later.
Problem solving
Trillium leaves are susceptible to the attentions of slugs and snails, while newly planted corms may attract squirrels.
Advice on buying trilliums
- Buy trilliums as dry corms or young plants, bearing in mind that plantings from young plants tend to be more successful than from corms
- Ensure you have the right conditions for growing trillium: a sheltered spot in shade, with moist but well-drained soil
- Always check plants for signs of damage and disease before planting
Where to buy trillums
Types of trillium to grow
Trillium grandiflorum
Trillium grandiflorum
The most commonly grown trillium and the easiest to grow. Leaves are ribbed and shiny, and flowers are large, pure white and funnel-shaped. Height x Spread: 40cm x 30cm
Trillium erectum
Trillium erectum. Getty Images
Known as red trillium or purple trillium, this species bears nodding, three-petalled blooms in various shades of red to purple. Each trillium flower turns into a small red berry. H x S: 45cm x 45cm
Trillium chloropetalum
Trillium chloropetalum. Getty Images
Known as giant trillium or giant wake robin, it has marbled green leaves which are attractive in their own right, and large burgundy flowers. H x S: 50cm x 50cm
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