Trillium showing promise

Two for the price of one - can't be bad!

Oh Stera, I don't want the Arum under the Trillium.

Wow how exciting? I planted T grandiflorum last week, it arrived dormant, yours is well on. I’m hoping my woodland can give it the required conditions.

Dawn, I bought a T. grandiflora last year, that one is not showing through the soil yet.

That isn't good. I like both plants.

Thanks Siris. I started with that one as meant to be the easiest to grow. Then I got carried away and ordered T luteum and T maculatum. I hope I can give them what they need.

Dawn, I think luteum is sturdy. I bought one maybe 15 years ago 'lost' it in the border, but it turned up a couple of years ago, so now well marked, which is just as well as not showing yet and dislikes being disturbed.

It's looking good Sue , I can't remember if I dug up and potted a trillium to bring with me Fingers crossed I might find one amongst my lot ....

I hope you did Amy.
Thanks Siris, I've read they don't like being disturbed, how lucky it reappeared for you.

15 years sounds about right, Siris. They are very slow to develop and spread the rhizomes under the leaf litter. They grow wild in the hardwood forests here in Ontario, and have been a protected wildflower for decades. It's the provincial flower (grandiflorum) of Ontario. I have both erectum and grandiflorum. There was a thick swathe of them on our hillside which was devastated by the neighbours pigs. As you can imagine I was very angry with the neighbours for letting them escape their bounds. It will soon be wildflower time, can't wait.

How exciting, never bought any, too expensive....good luck with yours!

No Siris of course you don't want both together - just trying to make the most of it and think positive...
I would love Trilliums but somehow never got round to trying.
Lori no wonder you were angry!

I've bought three this week.
Lori, what are their basic requirements? Thanks

Lori, I would agree about 15 years, this is probably over 20.
Dawn, a shady woodsy spot, plenty of leaf mould, don't disturb once planted. With really special plants, I sometime put into a bigger spot with extra of their preferred compost, and sink the whole pot into my chosen position, then if it likes it there, turn it out of the pot without root disturbance.

Thanks Siris and what a good idea of testing an area still potted. I’m getting plenty of leaves on the ground now in some parts thanks mainly to the oaks and maples and it’s damp so fingers crossed. The cyclamen coum are happy so hopefully the trillium will be too. Keep us posted on the progress of yours.

They became protected here in Ontario because people would pic armloads of them...they were that plentiful. The leaves precede the flower and rise from the rhizomes, actually they are not leaves but brachts. They produce the sustenance for the whole plant and if they are all picked off the rhizomes will starve. After the flowers fade and start to produce seed pods (bright orangey red) the brachts die back. the rhizomes form a carpet-like layer under the leaf mold almost like mycelium, one plant can cover a lot of area. The pigs made a noisy crunching sound chewing up the cobs of the ferns and the rhizomes of the trilliums... you wouldn't believe the damage they can do with just their little piggy snouts.

Lori, I would love to see a wood full of Trilliums. Are the pigs wild? I do like the marcassins, they look like humbugs with legs.

Very interesting thanks Lori. Naughty pigs, what a shame.

Siris and Dawn: These were small pigs, totally black in colour, smart as the dickens... sneaky too! The farmer let them roam through their own bushlot which abuts mine. The electric fence they put up was useless. They just walked along it until they found a gap that they could fit through...then the pillaging began! Will have to get a pic from the neighbourhood woodlots for you Siris. Won't be til May sometime though. Erythronium, Claytonia, and Dutchman's Britches (can't remember the proper name, sorry.) are all mixed in with the trilliums.

Lori, Think we call Dicentra cucullaria Dutchmans breeches. I grow the white and the pink D. formosa, grows well for me. Didn't know Claytonia, had to look that one up.

Claytonia (as kids, we called them May Flowers) are (I think) an arbutus. They grow along the ground and have white star cups lined with pink and a yellow centre. They have a delicious scent. will post a pic from my archives.

Saw your picture Lori if Claytonia, a gorgeous plant

Just seen your pic of Claytonia virginica, nice. I thought you meant winter purslane, which is disappointing for a flower garden.

yes dicentra cucullaria..that's right, Siris...it's related to bleeding heart. I have about 20 sq ft. of it!
The leaves die back and disappear after the blossom fades.