Trillium

Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Also known as: white trillium

Bloom time: April – May

Additional photos:

• Trillium grandiflorum flower bud
  credit: Joyce Brant
• Trillium grandiflorum just before first bloom
  credit: Joyce Brant
• Trillium gradiflorum just past first bloom
  credit: Joyce Brant
• Trillium grandiflorum past mid bloom
  credit: Joyce Brant
• Trillium grandiflorum fading to pink
  credit: Joyce Brant

General: Woodland plant, 10-40 cm tall.

Leaves & Twigs: Woodland plant, 10-40 cm tall.

Flowers & Fruits

• Three distinctive white petals form a single white flower up to 10 cm across.
• Flowers fade over time to a dull pinkish purple shade, and become slightly transparent.
• The greenish, round fruit forms a six-sided, berry-like capsule.

Habitat: Trilliums are found in rich, moist, well-drained woods and wet areas at low to mid-elevations. They prefer semi-shade, and are often found under sugar maple and beech trees in open forests.

PlantWatch Pointers: If possible, select a patch of trilliums next to a trail so that you can make observations without stepping on growing plants. If these plants are very abundant, mark a section 1 metre square.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first flowers are open in the observed plants.
• Mid bloom: when 50% of the flowers are open in the observed plants, but have not yet started turning pink.

Distribution Map:

This species is monitored in:

• Ontario
• Quebec

The name trillium means “in threes”, which refers to the fact that leaves, petals and sepals appear in triplicate.