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Painted Wake-Robin Wikimedia Commons
Melanthiaceae

Painted Wake-Robin

Trillium sessile

Resurrection and new beginnings.

Family
Melanthiaceae
Genus
Trillium
Native to
Eastern United States
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Height
6-12 inches
Sunlight
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Soil
Moist, Humus-rich
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The common name 'wake-robin' refers to its early spring bloom, heralding the return of robins.
  • Unlike most trilliums, the flowers sit directly on the leaves without a stalk (sessile means 'sitting').
  • The mottled leaves are beautifully patterned with light and dark green splotches.
  • The flowers emit a subtle spicy fragrance, sometimes compared to banana or strawberry.
  • Ants play a crucial role in seed dispersal through a process called myrmecochory.

Color meanings

0

Awakening

1

Spring

2

New beginnings

Uses

  • Shade gardens
  • Woodland plantings
  • Native plant gardens
  • Naturalized areas