Trilliums are in full bloom in Ontario’s forests and woodlands. A lot of pictures of this beautiful flower are being shared on social media.
The white trillium (trillium grandiflorum), which is Ontario’s official flower, is the one most people know. However, there are 50 species of trillium that are native to temperate parts of North America and Asia.
Trilliums are spring ephemerals that delight gardeners with their charming flowers and whorled leaves. But how often do these woodland wildflowers actually bloom? Let’s take a closer look at the flowering frequency and habits of different trillium species.
Blooming Season
Most trilliums bloom in spring, with some species extending into early summer. The blooming period is relatively short for an individual trillium flower, lasting just 1-2 weeks in most cases.
However the total blooming season for a trillium plant can span 2-3 months with flowers opening sequentially over time. Here are some general blooming seasons for popular trillium species
- Red trillium (Trillium erectum): April to early June
- Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum): April to May
- Toadshade trillium (Trillium sessile): March to May
- Yellow trillium (Trillium luteum): March to May
- White wake-robin (Trillium grandiflorum): April to June
So in zones 5-7 where trilliums thrive, you can expect them to bloom somewhere between March and June, with peak flowering in April and May.
Blooming Frequency
Individual trillium flowers last about 2-3 weeks before fading But how often do new flowers emerge over the course of the blooming season?
Annual Trilliums
Some trillium species, like the painted trillium, are annuals. The plant will emerge, bloom, set seed, and die back completely within a single growing season.
Annual trilliums only bloom once per year. Each flower lasts up to 3 weeks, and the plant may produce 1-5 blooms sequentially over several weeks in spring.
Perennial Trilliums
Most trilliums are perennial, living for many years and blooming every spring. However, their blooming frequency can vary:
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Some perennial trilliums, like the red trillium, will only produce 1-2 bloom cycles per season. Each flower lasts 2-3 weeks.
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Other perennial trilliums are more prolific, producing new flowers continuously throughout spring. It’s not unusual for these trilliums to bloom for 6 weeks or longer.
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Established plants may produce 5 flowers or more in a single season, with each flower lasting up to 3 weeks.
So while individual trillium blooms are fleeting, a perennial trillium plant can provide weeks of floral display by producing new blooms in sequence over an extended spring blooming period.
Factors Affecting Blooming
Several factors influence how prolifically and frequently trilliums bloom each year:
Maturity
Young trillium plants may only produce 1-2 blooms per season. As the plants mature over 3-5 years, blooming frequency increases significantly.
Growing Conditions
Trilliums bloom best in rich, moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. Insufficient light, overly wet or dry soil, and competition from tree roots can all negatively impact flowering.
Species Traits
Some trillium species are simply more floriferous than others. Painted trillium and white wake-robin tend to bloom more heavily than red or yellow trilliums.
Flower Removal
Removing spent blooms may encourage re-blooming in some trillium species. However, don’t cut off flower stems of annual trilliums, as they die after flowering.
Division
Dividing mature clumps every 3-5 years can help maintain vigorous blooming. Congested plants tend to bloom less.
Fertilization
Applying a balanced organic fertilizer or compost in early spring may support increased flowering. But don’t over-fertilize, as excess nutrients can cause floppy growth.
Encouraging More Blooms
Here are some tips to maximize trillium flowering:
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Choose prolific reblooming species like white wake-robin or painted trillium.
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Provide rich, moist, well-drained soil. Amend planting sites with compost.
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Mulch plants to conserve soil moisture and prevent wide temperature fluctuations.
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Water plants during dry periods to prevent drought stress.
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Allow plants to mature for at least 3-5 years before expecting peak blooming.
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Remove spent flowers on reblooming types to promote new buds.
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Divide congested clumps every 3-5 years to rejuvenate plants.
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Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost in early spring.
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Provide light shade to prevent overheating while allowing sufficient sunlight.
With proper care, you can enjoy ornamental trillium flowers over an extended blooming period from mid-spring into early summer. While individual blooms are ephemeral, trilliums offer long-lasting floral displays through sequential opening of multiple flowers per plant.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not illegal to pick trilliums in Ontario
There’s a pervasive myth that it’s against the law in Ontario to pick trilliums.
People may think this because the trillium is Ontario’s official flower, picking the flower can hurt or kill the plant, or because it is illegal to remove any plants from Ontario’s provincial parks, which is where trilliums grow.
In 2009, it did almost became illegal to pick trilliums in Ontario. At that time, Jeff Leal, a former MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha and minister for rural affairs, introduced the Ontario Trillium Protection Act as a private member’s bill.
That legislation would have made it illegal to pick or dig up the white trillium. Doing so would have resulted in a minimum $500 fine. However, although the bill passed first reading, it never became law.
Trilliums have a symbiotic relationship with ants
The trillium seeds are mostly spread by ants, which are drawn to the elaiosome, a fleshy structure attached to the seeds.
It has a lot of good stuff for you that the ants eat after they bring the seeds back to their nests.
The ants then get rid of the seeds that don’t have elaiosomes by either rolling them around in the ground (which keeps them safe from predators) or throwing them out of their nests. The seeds eventually germinate and sprout into new plants.
Myrmecochory is the name for this way that ants spread seeds, and it’s not just used by trilliums. Many flowering plant species use it.
Trilliums
FAQ
Do trilliums bloom every 7 years?
What is the life cycle of a trillium?
What time of year does trillium bloom?
Is trillium a rare flower?
How long do trilliums live?
The pedicellate types usually boast larger, more colorful flowers. Most herbaceous plants mature pretty quickly, but trilliums take up to seven years. Being relatively slow-growing usually goes hand in hand with being long-lived, and that’s true in this case. An individual plant can live for 25 years or more, and it can reproduce indefinitely.
When do trilliums Bloom?
The Trillium is a beloved sign of spring and they bloom in wooded areas from February to June, depending on the species and the area of North America where they are located. There are 39 species of trilliums in North America and 49 species world-wide and they are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9.
How long do Trillium flowers last?
Fall trilliums bloom from September through November. Both have white flowers with yellow centers. Spring trilliums grow up to 1 foot tall. Their leaves are oval to oblong shaped. The flowers are usually solitary but can be several inches apart. Spring trillium flowers last about one week before they fade away.
How long does a Trillium take to grow?
Trilliums are very slow-growing plants. The plant’s seeds normally take at least two years to fully germinate, with the plant itself taking between seven to 10 years to reach flowering size. After the plant produces its first flower, it will bloom annually in early spring, with the bloom lasting for around three weeks.
How big do trilliums get?
Spring trilliums grow up to 1 foot tall. Their leaves are oval to oblong shaped. The flowers are usually solitary but can be several inches apart. Spring trillium flowers last about one week before they fade away. Fall trilliums grow anywhere from 2 to 6 feet tall. Their leaves are heart shaped.
Is a Trillium a perennial?
Although the trillium is a perennial plant, as a spring ephemeral it’s very fragile. The trillium blooms for a few weeks in the early spring, before the trees grow leaves, so it can get more sunlight. During this time, it collects all the nutrients in needs to survive until the following year.