What Is a Painted Trillium?

Description

• Painted trillium emerges in spring with a single, green, slim stalk at the top of which sit three, broad green leaves. Once mature, these leaves have a reddish or blueish hue to them. Later in spring, the flower emerges above the leaves with three white petals. Each petal has a deep pink v-shaped mark at the base, giving it a painted look. The flower and stalk can reach 2 feet tall at most, but often remain smaller. The plant grows from underground rhizomes; you can propagate it by carefully dividing these rhizomes when the plant goes dormant, or with seeds.

Climate Preferences

• This wildflower overwinters in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. It prefers cool environments with at least partial shade, but can survive in a sunny area as long as you never allow the soil to dry out. Ideally, it enjoys a climate similar to that created by deciduous woodlands, with sun in the spring due to the bare trees and partial or full shade from a leafy canopy in summer and fall.

Soil and Water Requirements

• Painted trillium requires moist soil, especially in summer, but one that drains well and never floods. It can grow in sand or clay, but prefers a deep, rich soil with lots of humus. Like blueberries (Vaccinum spp.), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, painted trillium can grow in very acidic soil with a pH down to 4.5. Generally, you will rarely find this flower growing in soils with pH above 6.5 or 6.8, and even fewer in alkaline soils.

Landscape Uses

• Plant this flower at the edge of a woodland or in an otherwise partially shaded area for the best results. You can plant it alone, but it creates a more striking effect when bunched together. You may want to maintain other plants in the same area as well to keep the interest going throughout the year, as both flower and foliage dies back by summer. In a sunny area, you may find this flower difficult to maintain, but if you regularly water the plant you might find success.