UT Gardens Plant of the Month for March 2014:
Toadshade
trillium
Submitted by Jason Reeves, research
horticulturist, the University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson
You know spring is upon us when you see the foliage
of trillium pushing through the ground. Along with other spring ephemerals like bloodroot and Virginia bluebells, trillium provides hope after a long
winter.
There are more than 30 species of trillium native to
the U.S. One of the more common species in Tennessee is Trillium sessile. Its common names include toadshade, toad trillium, sessile trillium and red
trillium.
The height of the plants ranges from 5 inches to 12
inches, and the single stalk is topped with a symmetrical whorl of three
leaves. The oval leaves average 2 inches to 4 inches long with the color and
patterns varying widely from solid green to a mottled light and dark green, or
even chocolate or a somewhat silver color. As the foliage matures, the mottling
fades.
In the center of the whorled leaves the stalk-less flower is produced. Narrow 1-inch
to 2-inch tall petals point skyward and are skirted by three smaller sepals
that protrude at a 45-degree angle. Both
petals and sepals can range in color from reddish-brown and maroon to greenish
yellow.
Usually found growing in the wild in moist, rich,
deciduous woodlands, it can also be found in somewhat chalky, limey soils. In
the garden, toadshade performs best in shady to partly shady locations in moist
soils abundant with organic matter. It
is drought tolerant, but will go dormant earlier in the season when dry.
It is generally recommended that trillium be divided while dormant, but I have been successful through
the years dividing clumps of Trillium
sessile in my garden just as they emerge in the spring. I dig a section,
being careful to keep the soil intact and to replant right away.
It’s worth noting that plants should never be dug from the wild unless the area
is threatened by construction. Your best sources are specialty nurseries that
propagate their own stock, or a friend with an established stand in their
landscape.
Over time it will spread by rhizomes to form a
beautiful stand. It can be seen growing
in the UT Gardens locations in Knoxville and Jackson.
Jason Reeves is a research
horticulturist with the University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson. The UT
Gardens includes plant collections located in Knoxville,
Jackson and Crossville. Designated as the official botanical garden for the
State of Tennessee, the collections are part of the UT Institute of
Agriculture. The gardens’ mission is to foster appreciation, education and
stewardship of plants through garden displays, educational programs and
research trials. The gardens are open during all seasons and free to the
public. For more information see http://utgardens.tennessee.edu
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Contact:
Jason Reeves, UT West Tennessee AgResearch and Education
Center, 731-424-1643