Trillium vaseyi Harbison. Common name: Sweet Trillium, Vasey’s Trillium, Sweet Beth. Phenology: Late Apr-early Jun. Habitat: Cove forests, other rich forests. Distribution: This species is a Southern Appalachian endemic: w. NC and e. TN south to nw. SC, n. GA, and ne. AL, but extending south into the Coastal Plain of GA and AL
ID notes: Perhaps the largest trillium species, with the stems to 7 dm tall. Petals maroon or white.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA26, K4, NS, POWO, S, S13, Tn, W, Case & Case (1997), Floden & Knapp (2023), Patrick (1986), Patrick (2007); < Trillium erectum L. var. vaseyi (Harb.) H.E.Ahles — RAB. Basionym: Trillium vaseyi Harb. 1901
Links to other floras: = Trillium vaseyi - FNA26
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Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Trillium vaseyi (possible hybrid complex), Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Trillium vaseyi, Rabun Bald, Chattahoochee National Forest, Rabun County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of cove and other rich forests; a southern Appalachian endemic.
Stems: Stems slender, unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves 3 in a whorl at top of stem, sessile, broadly oval to diamond-shaped with rounded angles, about 8 in. long.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flower solitary on a long stalk from center of leaf whorl, curved down below leaves; maroon (rarely white); to 4 in. wide; consisting of 3 recurved, strongly overlapping oval petals, 3 spreading green sepals, 6 stamens with long anthers and a purplish-black ovary;
Fruits: Fruit a dark reddish-maroon, fleshy, nearly round capsule resembling a berry.
Comments: Flowers with a pungent, rose-like fragrance.
Height: 12-28 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of cove and other rich forests; a southern Appalachian endemic.
stems: Stems slender, unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves 3 in a whorl at top of stem, sessile, broadly oval to diamond-shaped with rounded angles, about 8 in. long.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flower solitary on a long stalk from center of leaf whorl, curved down below leaves; maroon (rarely white); to 4 in. wide; consisting of 3 recurved, strongly overlapping oval petals, 3 spreading green sepals, 6 stamens with long anthers and a purplish-black ovary;
fruits: Fruit a dark reddish-maroon, fleshy, nearly round capsule resembling a berry.
comments: Flowers with a pungent, rose-like fragrance.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: NC, SC, TN, GA & AL
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