by Donna Hill B.Sc. B.Ed. 1997

Sometimes called "Wake Robin" because they appear about the same time as Robins return from winter migration, the Trillium is Ontario's provincial flower.

In North America, there are many types of Trilliums. Some scientists believe that they all are members of the Lily family, while others think they deserve a family of their own because they have netted-veined leaves unlike the Lilies.

The name Trillium was given to this plant because all of its parts comes in groups of 3. Our local species, Trillium ovatum can be recognized by its large (up to 5 cm or 3 inches) three white petals, three sepals (small green leaves under the petals) which rise on a stem above three large green leaves (which measure 15 cm or 6 inches). These leaves also are on a tall naked green stem. The white petals change to pink as they age.

It can be told apart from other Trilliums because it is only local species which has a stem between the flower and leaves. One close relative that also has this is Trillium rivale which grows only in SW Oregon and NW California.

Over most of their range, (south-western BC, WA, northwest OR) these Trilliums are now protected. Historically, people picked the tender leaves before they flowered and added them to salads. By doing this, they decreased local populations of Trilliums because the plants would die. The leaves make sugars that are stored in the rhizomes (roots) and when the leaves are removed, the plant cannot make sugar and most will die. If a trillium does survive, it takes many years for it to regrow and produce seeds, slowing down the population growth. Trilliums also face a problem common to many species-loss of habitat.

If you find a forest area that is being developed and has Trilliums growing on it, you can carefully collect the ripe seeds in summer and plant them to suitable habitat. Make sure to get the landowners permission, appropriate collection permits and permission of the landowner where you will plant them before you start. Remember, these are protected protected plants!

Transplanting dug up specimens is not usually as successful as simply planting collected seeds as this perennial does not like to be moved. However, it can be done when the land will be developed before the seeds have ripened. Dig at least 8 inches around the base of the plant to disturb it as little as possible when transplanting each plant. Again, make sure to get permission and permits from provincial or state government.

Trilliums prefer shady damp forest floor soils that are rich in nitrogen. They grow at low to middle elevations in shaded areas with low to mid light levels. You can find them in early spring (late March to early April) when their stark white flowers make huge noticeable patches against green leaves on the forest floor. Look closely inside a flower with a hand lens and count their 3 stigmas but be careful not to trample them or the soil where they grow!

Also, look for other plants that are often found growing in the same habitat as the Trillium as they have similar growing requirements. These plants are: Vanilla Leaf, Twisted Stalk, Sweet-scented Bedstraw, Sword Fern, and Three-leafed Foam Flower.

The white flowers attract bees who sip the nectar and pollinate them. By mid-summer, the plants produce green berry-like seeds with ridges which fall to the ground with a sticky oily mass attached. The oil attracts ants who carry the seeds away and eat the oil, placing the leftover seeds on their trash pile to germinate and grow. Up to 30 percent of all Trillium seeds are spread from the parent plant in this way!