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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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image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Trillium luteum, Murray County, Georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Trillium luteum, Murray County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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