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Beth Root Wikimedia Commons
Melanthiaceae

Beth Root

Trillium erectum

Healing and renewal.

Family
Melanthiaceae
Genus
Trillium
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
0.5-1.5 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
Rich, moist, humus-rich soil
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Beth root can take 7 to 10 years to grow from seed to a flowering plant.
  • The plant produces a smell resembling rotting meat to attract its primary pollinators: flies.
  • Native Americans used the root extensively as a medicinal herb for childbirth and wound healing.
  • All parts of the trillium grow in threes: three leaves, three petals, and three sepals.
  • Ants help disperse the seeds by carrying them to their nests for the nutrient-rich coating on the seeds.

Color meanings

0

modesty

1

hidden beauty

Uses

  • woodland gardens
  • traditional medicine
  • native plant restoration