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Trillium cuneatum Rafinesque. Subgenus: Sessilia. Common name: Sweet Betsy, Purple Toadshade, Large Toadshade, Wedge-petal Trillium, Bloody Butcher. Phenology: (Jan-) Mid Mar-Apr; late May-Jun. Habitat: In rich soils of cove forests, moist slopes, and bottomlands, usually over mafic or calcareous rocks, locally abundant. Distribution: Nc. NC, c. KY, and s. IL south to sc. GA, sc. AL, and s. MS. Sometimes spreading from cultivation outside of this area.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: Petals maroon, yellow, green, or various intermediate shades.

Synonymy : = C, F, FNA26, Il, K4, Mi, NS, Pa, POWO, Tn, W, Case & Case (1997), Freeman (1975), Patrick (1986), Patrick (2007); = Trillium cuneatum Raf. var. cuneatum — RAB; > Trillium cuneatum Raf. — F; > Trillium hugeri Small — S; >< Trillium underwoodii Small — S, misapplied; >< Trillium viride L.C.Beck — F, misapplied with respect to NC material; < Trillium viride Beck var. luteum (Muhl.) Gleason — G, misapplied (also see T. luteum)

Links to other floras: = Trillium cuneatum - FNA26

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Heliophily : 3

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Trillium cuneatum, Macon County, North Carolina 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Trillium cuneatum, Chattahoochee National Forest, Towns County, Georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Trillium cuneatum, Gwinnett County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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native range
Erect, often colonial perennial found in rich soils of cove forests, moist slopes and bottomlands, usually over mafic or calcareous rocks.
Stem stout, unbranched, smooth and mostly concealed by the large leaves.
Leaves 3, sessile and overlapping in a single whorl at top of stem; broadly oval to wedge-shaped; 3-7 in. long; with light and dark green mottling.
Flower solitary at top center of leaf whorl; sessile; 1 1/2-2 3/4 in. long; consisting of 3 maroon to bronze (occasionally yellow), erect, narrow petals, 3 green and purple sepals, 6 linear maroon stamens, and a maroon ovary.
Fruit a maroon red, 3-celled, fleshy capsule resembling a berry.
Flower scent variously described as spicy-fruity to wet-dog-like.
6-11 in.
These plants have been carefully propagated from seed at NCBG. Slow- growing but long-lived, trilliums are a valued and choice wildflower that is rarely offered for sale. Little Sweet Betsy has deep reddish maroon flowers, with handsome mottled leaves. Ideal growing conditions are part shade and moist, well- drained, rich soil. This SE native perennial is found from North Carolina as far south as NW Florida and as far west as Mississippi.
Erect, often colonial perennial found in rich soils of cove forests, moist slopes and bottomlands, usually over mafic or calcareous rocks.
Stem stout, unbranched, smooth and mostly concealed by the large leaves.
Leaves 3, sessile and overlapping in a single whorl at top of stem; broadly oval to wedge-shaped; 3-7 in. long; with light and dark green mottling.
Flower solitary at top center of leaf whorl; sessile; 1 1/2-2 3/4 in. long; consisting of 3 maroon to bronze (occasionally yellow), erect, narrow petals, 3 green and purple sepals, 6 linear maroon stamens, and a maroon ovary.
Fruit a maroon red, 3-celled, fleshy capsule resembling a berry.
Flower scent variously described as spicy-fruity to wet-dog-like.
The leaves of this trillium are beautifully mottled when they rise through the leaf litter in early March. One of the largest sessile trilliums, Little Sweet Betsy petals are maroon to wine red attracting much attention in the woods and garden. The common name is suggestive of the faint fragrance, spicy, some say like banana. Flowering from early March to mid-April, these trilliums can be found in rich, mostly upland woods in scattered populations through the Southeasten United States. Propagated easily from seed, this is a favorite trillium to plant in the garden for it to gracefully populate the home garden.
southeastern United States


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