We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Trillium grandiflorum - (Michx.)Salisb.

Common Name White Trillium, Large Flower Trillium, White Trillium, Large Flower Wakerobin, Large Flowered Tril
Family Trilliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich woods and thickets, usually on limestone[43]. Rich deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous upland woods, floodplains, roadsides at elevations of 20 - 700 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America - Maine to Ontario, south to Georgia and Arkansas.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Trillium grandiflorum White Trillium, Large Flower Trillium, White Trillium, Large Flower Wakerobin,  Large Flowered  Tril


Trillium grandiflorum White Trillium, Large Flower Trillium, White Trillium, Large Flower Wakerobin,  Large Flowered  Tril

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, White. Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Trillium grandiflorum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from April to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - cooked and used like spinach[46, 61, 105, 183]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Diuretic  Emmenagogue  Ophthalmic

The root is diuretic[257]. The raw root is grated and applied as a poultice to the eye in order to reduce swelling[207, 213]. The raw root s also used as a poultice on aching rheumatic joints[257]. A decoction of the root bark can be used as drops in treating a sore ear[257]. The grated root is steeped in water and drunk as a tea for the treatment of cramps[207]. The grated root is simmered in water and drunk for the treatment of irregular menses[207, 213].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Ground cover, Woodland garden. Prefers a deep well-drained woodland or humus-rich soil in a somewhat shady position that remains moist in the summer[1, 42]. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil but succeeds in acid or limey soils[200]. Grows well in open woodland[1, 90]. Succeeds in deep shade[188]. Succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out[42, 138]. A very ornamental and long-lived plant[1, 138, 233]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233], though slugs are very fond of the leaves[238]. A polymorphic species, it is very subject to mutation[90]. Some named varieties have been selected for their ornamental value[200]. Any transplanting is best done whilst the plants are in flower[200]. Plants can flower in two years from seed[138]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, North American native, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 3. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. Ephemeral emerging in spring and dying back by summer every year [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a shaded cold frame as soon as it is ripe[134, 200]. 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[138], whilst yet another report says that the seed can take 3 years to germinate[238]. The seedlings are prone to damp off and must therefore be watered with care and given plenty of fresh air[138]. 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[138]. Division with care when the plants die down after flowering[200]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Trillium erectumBeth Root - Indian Balm, Red trillium, Wakerobin, Purple TrilliumPerennial0.4 4-9 SLMHFSNM23 
Trillium kamtschaticum Perennial0.3 4-8  LMHFSNM12 
Trillium ovatumWakerobin, Pacific trillium, Oettinger's trillium, Hibberson's trilliumPerennial0.4 4-8  LMHFSNM11 
Trillium pendulum Perennial0.3 -  LMHFSNM01 
Trillium sessileToadshadePerennial0.4 4-8  LMHFSNM21 
Trillium smallii Perennial0.4 4-8  LMHFSNM10 
Trillium tschonoskii Perennial0.2 4-8  LMHFSNM12 
Trillium undulatumPainted TrilliumPerennial0.2 4-8  LMHFSNM11 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(Michx.)Salisb.

Botanical References

43200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Trillium grandiflorum  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.