Trillium erectum

Common Names

Red Trillium, Beth Root, Wake Robin, Stinking Benjamin, Purple Trillium, Bloody Nose, Dog Flower, Indian Balm

Summary

Trillium erectum, commonly Red Trillium, is a rhizomatous perennial native to eastern North America, it grows to about 20–40 cm tall with a whorl of three broadly ovate leaves and a solitary nodding flower that is typically deep maroon (occasionally white) and rises above the leaves, the fetid odor of the flower attracts carrion flies, and it blooms in spring, Cultivation notes: it prefers deep, moist but well-drained humus-rich soil in deep or partial shade with an acid to neutral pH, mulch in autumn with leaf mould, propagation is by division after flowering or by seed sown in pots in a shady cold frame, taking 5–7 years to reach flowering size, it can be slow to spread from seed and often forms a clump gradually, hardy in USDA zones 4–7, watch for slugs and snails and diseases such as leaf spot, smut, and rust, suitable for woodland gardens and moist shady borders, including underplanting of shrubs or roses.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

8-18 inches

Spread

12-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-7

Sunlight Requirements

Partial Shade to Full Shade.

Soil Type

Deep, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil, preferably acidic to neutral

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral soil (pH up to around 7).

Bloom Color

Red, maroon, purple

Bloom Time

Spring (April–May)

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Slow, 2–5 years to reach ultimate height, spreads very gradually.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cutting the growing point from the rhizome after flowering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts carrion flies and beetles