The many southeastern USA Trillium continue to bloom well and provide lots of interest here. For information on the species I mention here, there is no better reference than the on-line eFlora; the Flora of North America, authored by none other than Trillium expert Fred Case. The keys, descriptions, and level of detail in the text is all very good. http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx/… The two forms of Trillium reliquum I grow came from Georgia. It has gorgeous, intensely mottled foliage. Similar to T. decumbens, the foliage sits close to the ground, but unlike that nearly stemless species, T. reliquum has a stem of about 1" to 1-1/2" tall, among other differences. The upright flowers are a deep maroon red, the 3 flat-lying sepals similarly colored, if not a little paler. The flowers are said to smell putrid, but in my specimens they smell like clay, or like "stale yeasty bread"... mildly unpleasant but certainly not putrid. This is a stunning Trillium. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… (just to the upper left, can be seen the drying foliage of T. nivale, with a seed capsule) Trillium stamineum, the twisted trillium, is named for the twisted dark maroon petals, an unmistakable characteristic. Subtle leaf mottling, and flowering stems of just 3"-8" tall. Said to be unscented, but I detect a faint, peculiar scent to the flowers. My plants came from Alabama. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… Trillium lancifolium is a most distinctive small species, one that I like very much. My plants came from Tennessee, and grow to 6"-12" in flower. The foliage faces downwards giving the plant a narrow dog's-ear appearance, showing off the erect blooms with very narrow red petals that tend to incurve, overlap, and twist slightly. The incurved stamens are dark maroon. There is no detectable floral scent. In the first photo link below, the flowers are striking when backlit with late afternoon sun, with the equally bright flowers on stemless T. decumbens in the background. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… Trillium rugelii is fantastic. Known as the Southern Nodding Trillium, it is distinct and far superior to the familar nodding Trillium (T. cernuum) of eastern USA and Canada. My plant is robust, growing 15-18" tall, with very large reflexed nodding flowers like a giant dodecatheon. The most striking aspect of this species is the oversized, prominent ovary of a bright red-purple color, flanked by bluish-purple anthers. The strongly recurved flowers are nearly 4" across if stretched out, emitting a mild fruity aroma. The flowers last a very long time. The foliage is straight green and prominently veined. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… Trillium catesbaei, the "bashful trillium". I have several dozen of these planted out, and it wins a place in my heart for several reasons. This is a delicate species, up to a foot tall, with refined smallish undulate foliage and delightful nodding blooms that display great diversity in flower color and form. Because the foliage is not very large as in some species, the flowers can clearly be seen, even though they are nodding below the foliage. Flower color ranges from pure white, many shades of pink, to vibrant cherry colors, with bold yellow anthers. A few specimens have white flowers strongly mottled and streaked with pink. The petals are elegantly undulate along the margins, and are moderately to strongly recurved. The sepals are typically a gray-green color that beautifully frames the flowers, or sometimes reddish to purplish color. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… A nursery friend of mine purchased a number of plants of the common Trillium erectum, and what she got instead (in her favor) was was Trillium vaseyi, a superior southeastern species sometimes called the Sweet Trillium for the sweet scent of the blooms. Averaging about 18" tall, the striking blooms are an intense maroon red color, the petals heavily veined and netted. What's most striking about this species, is how the petals tightly recurve, folding backwards over the green sepals, forming a perfectly triangular shaped bloom. The large anthers eventually turn white, contrasting beautifully with the intense dark flower color, although in my two photos, I took the photos before the the anthers matured to white. The flowers are VERY large and bold, compared to the rather squinty, inferior flowers of most Trillium erectum forms one encounters. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… Lastly, is Trillium grandiflorum 'Multiplex'. I'm not often a fan of double flowers, but this is without doubt one of the most exquisitely formed flowers among double-flowered plants. The elegant ruffled flowers are pristine white, lasting for nearly a month, eventually fading to pink. I know of one nursery (Asiatica) that sells a single plant for $78 each (ouch!). In a couple years, my plant increased to 4 blooming stalks, and two youngsters. http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… http://plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/… pg Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5 ============================================== >> web site under construction - http://www.plantbuzz.com/ <
