Plant of the Month May 2018

Trillium grandiflorum (wake robin)
Family: Melanthiaceae
Origin: Eastern North America
Location: The Americas

T. grandiflorum is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial forming a large clump of erect stems each carrying a whorl of three broadly ovate leaves and a solitary terminal flower up to 10cm across, with three recurved white petals turning pinker with age. Like many forest perennials, it is a slow growing plant. Its seeds require double dormancy, meaning they normally take at least two years to germinate. Due to its popularity as a garden plant it has been heavily collected from the wild, leading to conservation concerns in some of its native areas. It grows best in deep, moist but well-drained, humus-rich, preferably acid to neutral soil in deep or partial shade.

Thanks to Maggie Gowland for photographs.