Trillium simile Gleason. Subgenus: Trillium. Common name: Sweet White Trillium. Phenology: (Late Jan-) Mar-early May; Jun-Jul. Habitat: Very rich soils of slopes and coves over mafic or calcareous rocks, often also in or near seepage. Distribution: A Southern Appalachian endemic: Blue Ridge and uppermost Piedmont of w. NC, nw. SC, e. TN, and n. GA.
ID notes: Petals white or very rarely maroon.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA26, K4, NS, POWO, S, Tn, W, Case & Case (1997), Floden & Knapp (2023), Patrick (1986), Patrick (2007); < Trillium erectum L. var. vaseyi (Harb.) H.E.Ahles — RAB. Basionym: Trillium simile Gleason 1906
Links to other floras: = Trillium simile - FNA26
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Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Alan Cressler: Trillium simile, Noontootla Creek Gorge, Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area, Chattahoochee National Forest, Fannin County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Trillium simile, Noontootla Creek Gorge, Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area, Chattahoochee National Forest, Fannin County, Georgia 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial found in very rich soils of slopes and coves over mafic or calcareous rocks; often also in or near seepage.
Stems: Stem scape-like, with a single whorl of leaves and flower stalk at the top; smooth.
Leaves: Leaves in a whorl of 3, sessile, roughly diamond-shaped, 4--7 in. long by 4--8 in. wide, solid green, with major veins prominent.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flower solitary and erect to leaning on a stalk emerging from center of leaf whorl; creamy white; 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 3 ascending (not spreading), broadly oval petals with only slightly recurved tips, 3 shorter sepals, and a purplish-black pyramidal ovary surrounded by 6 stamens.
Fruits:
Comments: Flowers have a faint green-apple smell.
Height: 11-23 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial found in very rich soils of slopes and coves over mafic or calcareous rocks; often also in or near seepage.
stems: Stem scape-like, with a single whorl of leaves and flower stalk at the top; smooth.
leaves: Leaves in a whorl of 3, sessile, roughly diamond-shaped, 4--7 in. long by 4--8 in. wide, solid green, with major veins prominent.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flower solitary and erect to leaning on a stalk emerging from center of leaf whorl; creamy white; 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 3 ascending (not spreading), broadly oval petals with only slightly recurved tips, 3 shorter sepals, and a purplish-black pyramidal ovary surrounded by 6 stamens.
fruits:
comments: Flowers have a faint green-apple smell.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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