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Red Trillium Wikimedia Commons
Melanthiaceae

Red Trillium

Trillium erectum

Modesty and solitude.

Family
Melanthiaceae
Genus
Trillium
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Herbaceous perennial
Height
20-40 cm
Sunlight
Partial shade to full shade
Soil
Moist, rich, acidic
Water
Regular
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • It is nicknamed 'stinking Benjamin' due to its unpleasant carrion-like smell that attracts fly pollinators.
  • All parts of the trillium come in threes: three petals, three sepals, and three leaves.
  • A trillium seed can take up to two years to germinate and seven years to produce its first flower.
  • Native Americans used red trillium root as a remedy for childbirth complications.
  • It is the provincial flower of Ontario, Canada, though that designation refers to the white trillium.

Color meanings

0

Humility

1

Wilderness beauty

2

Quiet strength

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Woodland gardens
  • Traditional medicine
  • Native plant restoration