Trillium

Trillium is a wonderful genus for light- or intermittent-shade and most do well in a peat garden. They will, in time, establish clumps but they need at least a season or two, to establish their roots and strength, after which they increase slowly. They may, at times, miss a season above ground, especially immediately after transplanting in Spring. Full establishment will take further time, then the plant slowly clumps.

Trillium are long-lived and trouble free but a good display is reserved for the patient gardener and the genus is not one that will give an instant display. In cultivation they like a rich soil and with the exception of Trillium undulatum (which likes severely acid soil) they are indifferent to acid or lime soils. The occurrence of some Trillium only over limestones, in the wild, is to do with drainage and seedling mortality and nothing to do with any actual need for lime.

Leaf-mould, peat and organic matter can all be worked into your soil with advantage. The more organic matter, the better the results usually. The correct soil structure is the most important factor. If you get the soil right your Trillium will thrive. If you get it wrong (heavy, wet, sticky, badly draining or hot, sunny and arid) and they may well survive but they will linger and do poorly giving the idea that the plants are difficult or at fault when in fact it is poor cultivation to blame. Trillium are tough and tolerant, and want to live!

Supplied as freshly-lifted rhizomes, sent when dormant. They are available for ordering from both our Autumn and Spring lists. They ripen later than most other plants, in the Autumn so are sent late, but autumn-transplanted rhizomes are less prone to aborting their first season above ground than are spring transplanted rhizomes.

Further cultivation details are to be found in our members’ area