One of the taller members of the trillium family, Red Trillium stands straight and proud with its flowering head held…relatively high. (It’s still a trillium, after all!) The maroon to brownish purple three-petaled flower blooms in April and May above three large green bracts that can be up to 7 inches long. As is the way with trilliums, it both commands attention and hides in plain sight, adding a seasonal playfulness to your planted spaces. Originally from the mountains of North Carolina, Red Trillium prefers the cold weather and the drier and more acidic side of soils.
Conditions: Deep shade to part shade; prefers slightly acidic soil with good drainage and average moisture
Size: 1'-1.5' tall
Zone: 4 - 8
Wildlife Value: Nectar attracts bees and other pollinating insects; larval host for several moth species
Photo: Samantha Nestory