Trillium luteum (Muhlenberg) Harbison. Subgenus: Sessilia. Common name: Yellow Trillium, Yellow Toadshade, Wax Trillium, Lemon-scented Trillium. Phenology: Mid Mar-Apr; late May-Jun. Habitat: Moist coves over mafic or calcareous rocks, locally abundant in the vicinity of the Great Smokies. Distribution: Nearly endemic to the Southern Appalachians: w. NC, e. TN, nw. GA, and se. KY, allegedly disjunct in c. AL (planted and naturalized in Frederick County, VA, and elsewhere, as in MD and PA).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: Petals yellow.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA26, K4, Mi, NS, Pa, POWO, S13, Tn, Va, W, Case & Case (1997), Freeman (1975), Patrick (1986), Patrick (2007); = n/a — Tat; = Trillium cuneatum Raf. var. luteum (Muhl.) H.E.Ahles — RAB; < Trillium sessile L. — S, misapplied; < Trillium viride Beck var. luteum (Muhl.) Gleason — G, (also see T. cuneatum). Basionym: Trillium sessile L. var. luteum Muhl. 1813
Links to other floras: = Trillium luteum - FNA26
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Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Trillium luteum, Murray County, Georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Trillium luteum, Murray County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of moist cove forests over mafic or calcareous rocks; locally abundant in the vicinity of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Stems: Stems stout, unbranched, green tinged with reddish-purple, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves 3 in a whorl at top of stem, sessile, triangular to oval, 2 1/2-5 in. long, with dark and light green mottling, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flower solitary and sessile at top of stem in center of leaf whorl, yellow, consisting of 3 erect narrow petals, 3 erect to spreading narrow green sepals, 6 erect yellow anthers and a greenish-white ovary; may have a faint lemony scent.
Fruits: Fruit a maroon red, 3-celled, fleshy capsule resembling a berry.
Comments: Flower may have faint lemony scent.
Height: 4-12 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of moist cove forests over mafic or calcareous rocks; locally abundant in the vicinity of the Great Smoky Mountains.
stems: Stems stout, unbranched, green tinged with reddish-purple, smooth.
leaves: Leaves 3 in a whorl at top of stem, sessile, triangular to oval, 2 1/2-5 in. long, with dark and light green mottling, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flower solitary and sessile at top of stem in center of leaf whorl, yellow, consisting of 3 erect narrow petals, 3 erect to spreading narrow green sepals, 6 erect yellow anthers and a greenish-white ovary; may have a faint lemony scent.
fruits: Fruit a maroon red, 3-celled, fleshy capsule resembling a berry.
comments: Flower may have faint lemony scent.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: KY, TN, NC & GA
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