Trilliums

Although sometimes referred to as "drooping trillium." the flowering stem of bent trillium is tall, erect, and the white flower itself is usually erect and facing outward, as seen in this photo, making it one of the more photogenic species of trilliums. As the season progresses and the flowers fade, the stems will begin to droop downward.

There are two basic types of trillium species. Those we are most familiar with (ex., Trillium grandiflorum) are the pedicellate trilliums that have flowers growing on stems above the leaves. The other is typified by the trillium in this photo. These are the sessile trilliums. These flowers are stemless and sit directly on top of the leaves. Sessile trillium leaves are also distinguished by beautiful gray, brown and purple mottling. Although unfamiliar to many, the sessile trilliums make up half or more of the different species found in the eastern U.S.

This photo shows variations of our common red trillium with white and cream colored blossoms growing alongside the usual red blossoms.

Another one of the sessile trilliums, note the "lance-shaped" leaves which give this species its name. The slim, sharply pointed flower petals add to the effect.

Here we have a four-leaved trillium. I hope it will bring us luck!

Probably our most common trillium, these flowers used to be abundant and widespread, but wild polulations are deer candy. Fortunately, they are very adaptable and easy to grow in your average shade garden. They are also readily available for sale by reputable nurseries, but please do not purchase wild-collected plants. Know your nursery.

This close-up of the flower clearly shows the lovely pinkish ovary, sharply angled, which can distinguish T. flexipes from other white flowering trilliums.

If you look closely, you can see a tiny insect on the upper left petal. This close-up of the similar trillium, named for its similarity to the other white flowered trilliums, shows the dark, angled ovary, one way to distinguish this flower from other species.

The gorgeous and well-named painted trilliums grow wild in the forest preserve.

The white flowered similar trillium is a slightly nodding version of the more upright bent trillium. They are also lovely, carefree additions to the shade garden.

This large patch of bent trillium exhibits the ability of this trillium to spread quickly from a single rhizome into a healthy patch.

Sweet Betsy is a larger, often fragrant, version of toadshade. Mottled leaves are a lovely addition to the early spring garden. It is capable of forming large patches over time in gardens and protected woodlands.

Also known as nodding trillium, the flowering stem is angled downward, hiding the blossom beneath the leaves. The petals are tightly recurved, similar to the flowers of our native turk's cap lily.

This trillium is a double-flowered cultivar of our common native great white. It is sterile, as the reproductive parts have been transformed through a mutation into the extra petals. Lovely, but does not provide pollen for our insects.

This wild trillium was found in our forest preserve. It is an unusual color form, not quite red and not quite pink.

Here is our namesake trillium, the red trillium, growing wild in the forest preserve and appearing here, ready for take-off.

Freshly washed by an early spring shower, this painted trillium exhibits the extremely dark leaves often found on them in early spring. The dark pigment is caused by extra anthocyanins, the same chemical that produces some of our fall colors. In this case, it may serve to protect the trillium from light damage and may also provide some camouflage from herbivores.

All of our trillium species are important sources of food for early emerging insects.

Our latest blooming trillium, Vasey's trillium also displays the largest flower, so large that it nods below the leaves and may remain hidden despite its size.

This wild painted trillium has produced a "berry" containing seeds. The berry also contains an elaiosome, which attracts ants. The ants eat the elaiosome, leaving the seeds behind to germinate and prosper. This phenomenon of ants planting trilliums, as well as other forest herbs, is called "myrmecochory."

One of the smallest species and also one of the earliest to bloom, dwarf trillium looks like a miniature version of the large white trillium with its ruffled petals.

Lest you think that trilliums are pretty but hardly useful to insect life, look closely, for here we see a caterpillar that has munched on the leaves and even taken a bite out of the flower.

Tallest of the sessile trilliums, prairie trilliums tower over toadshade and sweet Betsy. Despite their height, they have the smallest flower, almost like a little rosebud.

Although named green, this showy sessile trillium is conspicuously bicolored, with both flowers and bracts liberally flushed with purple.

Another sessile trillium, the yellow trillium not only has distinctive mottled leaves and yellow flowers, but the early flowers are noticeably lemon scented.

Closely related to Trillium erectum, white flowered forms of southern red trillium can also be found alongside the more typical red, as shown here.

This patch of wild painted trillium can spread out and colonize because it is inside a fence and protected from deer

Another double-flowered cultivar of great white trillium, this garden specimen is eye-catching, but provides no pollen for our insect visitors. Fortunately, we have many that do!