Trillium is a Lovely Wildflower in the Woods

Trillium flowers are wildflowers found on roadsides and along wooded trails in the northern climates. This spring I was delighted to see colonies of blooming Trillium in a wooded area in western Wisconsin, near the Mississippi River.

The dirt road was hemmed in by woods on both sides. The setting was both serene and wild. Tall trees and rocky bluffs rose high into the air. It was a rare spring day. Looking closely into the ditches along the road, we saw wildflowers, blooming in colonies. Colonies of Trillium stretched back into the shaded woods, where it was too thick and brushy to walk safely. The Trillium along the roadside had a delicate, fairy-like air. Delightful three petaled flowers danced in the breeze .

Trillium Wildflowers

Trillium wildflowers grow in the north. The delicate blooms spring up in scattered colonies. Trillium blooms between April to June. The flowers are white, pink or red-purple. Trillium flowers start out white and turn pink as they age. The three petaled flowers grow from a plant of pointed leaves, which measure two to six inches. Trillium plants grow to a height to fourteen inches tall.

Leave Trillium in Natural Setting

Trillium need rich, moist soil. The best setting is one where the wildflower receives full sun until the tree leaves fill out in spring. The plants stay moist, but are never saturated.

The Trillium flower has three delicate looking petals. It is best to leave the flower in its natural setting. Picking the flower harms the plant. The petals are necessary for the nourishment of the plant. If the pretty flower gets picked it can take years for the plant to recover. The picked Trillium flower soon fades anyway, so it is best to leave the flower on the plant.

The fragile plants are on deep roots, called rhizomes. Transplanting the Trillium is difficult. If you want trillium in your garden it is best to purchase the plant from a garden nursery or plant from seeds. Leave the wildflowers in their natural ecosystem.