Purple Trillium, Wake-robin, Birthroot, Red Trillium, Trillium erectum L., Naturalized Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Wake-robin, Birthroot). The most prolific Trillium in the Woodland Garden, found growing as solitary specimens and as large groupings. The large grouping preventing the growth of other plants in that area. The stem is an above ground portion (a flowering scape) of the underground rhizome. It is smooth, green to greenish-red and grows to 10 to 15" in height. Leaves: In the true trilliums the leaf like parts are actually bracts just below the flower base. They are of course much larger than the normal bract that you see, but they are equipped to fulfill the function of a leaf. Like all Trilliums, the bracts form a whorl of 3 at the top of the stem. These are bright green with veins prominent, ovate rhombic in shape and widest at the middle. Flowers: The flower stalk rises from the whorl thrusting the flat flower face upward and outward. The 3 purple petals and the 3 green sepals are of equal length - from 1/2 to 1-1/2". The petals spread outward in the same plane as the sepals and with a slight reflexing at their tips. Like the petals, the sepals are lance shaped. They have prominent groves and the margins tend to twist or curl upward. Veins of the petals appear as though engraved. The anthers are erect or slightly recurving,maroon in color and yellow when the pollen is exposed. For the female flower parts the filaments are white to dark purple and as long as the anthers, the ovary is purple. Fruit: The flower matures to a dark maroon seed capsule that has 3 angles and a weak aroma of fruit. This capsule contains the seeds. The flower is ill-scented, such as wet dog smell, and has a bitter and acrid taste. Read Eloise Butler's notes below.

Habitat: The plant grows from thick rhizomes and will spread into a nice clump overtime if left undisturbed. Like most Trilliums it will grow best in well drained soil in light full shade or dappled sun under the tree canopy. The plant dies back to dormancy by mid summer and nothing else will grow in that place. Comparisons: One of the two large Trilliums in the Garden that have an erect flower stalk (the other the white Large Flowered Trillium).

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Purple Trillium	Trillium erectum L.	Lily (Liliaceae)	Woodland	Spring
Other names and notes	(Wake-robin, Birthroot). The most prolific Trillium in the Woodland Garden, found growing as solitary specimens and as large groupings. The large grouping preventing the growth of other plants in that area. The stem is an above ground portion (a flowering scape) of the underground rhizome. It is smooth, green to greenish-red and grows to 10 to 15" in height. Leaves: In the true trilliums the leaf like parts are actually bracts just below the flower base. They are of course much larger than the normal bract that you see, but they are equipped to fulfill the function of a leaf. Like all Trilliums, the bracts form a whorl of 3 at the top of the stem. These are bright green with veins prominent, ovate rhombic in shape and widest at the middle. Flowers: The flower stalk rises from the whorl thrusting the flat flower face upward and outward. The 3 purple petals and the 3 green sepals are of equal length - from 1/2 to 1-1/2". The petals spread outward in the same plane as the sepals and with a slight reflexing at their tips. Like the petals, the sepals are lance shaped. They have prominent groves and the margins tend to twist or curl upward. Veins of the petals appear as though engraved. The anthers are erect or slightly recurving,maroon in color and yellow when the pollen is exposed. For the female flower parts the filaments are white to dark purple and as long as the anthers, the ovary is purple. Fruit: The flower matures to a dark maroon seed capsule that has 3 angles and a weak aroma of fruit. This capsule contains the seeds. The flower is ill-scented, such as wet dog smell, and has a bitter and acrid taste. Read Eloise Butler's notes below. Habitat: The plant grows from thick rhizomes and will spread into a nice clump overtime if left undisturbed. Like most Trilliums it will grow best in well drained soil in light full shade or dappled sun under the tree canopy. The plant dies back to dormancy by mid summer and nothing else will grow in that place. Comparisons: One of the two large Trilliums in the Garden that have an erect flower stalk (the other the white Large Flowered Trillium).