Trillium
Among the most sought after and admired of the hardy North American woodland plants. There are around 30 species but most have never been common in gardens because of propagation difficulties and consequent high prices. The most common are Trillium grandiflorum, Trillium luteum, Trillium nivale and Trillium sessile.
Trilliums are usually though of as herbaceous perennials, but they are really more closely allied to the bulbs. They begin to come into growth in late winter and develop rapidly to be in flower by early to mid spring. Each stem bears three leaves and one flower, which has three sepals and three petals, hence Trillium. The size ranges from small rockery specimens like the 10 cm high T. nivale through to T. grandiflorum at around 60 cm. The larger species form substantial clumps with age. The smaller species tend to have white or pale pink flowers, but the larger ones are also available in shades of red and creamy yellow.
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