Also Known as: Showy Trillium, Grand Trillium, Large Flowered Trillium, Wood Lily, Great Flowered Trillium.

Color Variations: This species is always white at first, though it tends to turn a pinkish tint just before the flower dies each year.

Commentary: This is the largest and best-known of the quintessential genus of wildflowers. Tri, of course, means three in Latin, and thus with good reason this plant is named: it has three sepals, three leaves, and three petals. Of course, there is always an exception as Pepoon (1927) reports the existance of a four-petaled, -sepaled, and -leaved variety. I had said tongue-in-cheek that "I have never seen such a blasphemous thing," until Jay Gleason sent me this picture below, taken near Gaylord, Michigan. I stand corrected:) Click for a larger image.

The petals are generally lance-shaped as shown below, or they can be more circular shaped, as shown at far top. I do not believe that they represent different species, though tell me if I am wrong.

After the flower dies, a black fruit enjoyed by ants develops. The ants take the fruit to their dens and eat it, but the leave the seeds there, thus propogating the plant.

T. grandflorum is an excellent plant to transplant. Be sure to dig deep enough to get the bulb. Also, never pick any wildflower, but this especially. Because the plant and flower are so tall (up to 24" max.), the bulb dies if detached from the leaves. As Wampler & Wampler (1990) write, "...picking them ... causes the death of a plant that has taken nature several years to mature to blooming size." By contrast, however, the transplantor can save large patches of trilliums in short time if done properly.

The heavy plant may need to be held up with stakes if it begins to droop. Nonetheless, in a few years, the plants will look perfectly natural.

T. grandiflorum is often found in patches. It associates with Cut-Leaved Toothwort, Bloodroot, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Mayapple, and Wild Geranium.

Precautions and Uses: The root has been used to cure snakebites, stimulate the uterus in childbirth, and relive the pain of sore nipples of nursing mothers.

References: see Trillium Page.

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Copyright 1998-2001 Adrian Jones, who is solely responsible for the editorial content of this page.  Photos are copyright 1998 Kyle Jones, except that sent by Mr. Gleason, who retains all rights.