Large-flowered Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum. The great botanist, Linnaeus, created the name “trillium” to describe the “threeness” of the genus, which has three leaves, flowers with three petals, three sepals, three-chambered ovaries, and berries with three ribs. Trilliums are also commonly called Wake-Robins because many members bloom at about the time of the arrival of migrating robins in spring. Large-flowered Trillium, also called White Trillium, is white when young, but often turns pink with age; as shown here. Trillium species are found in various shapes and hues throughout much of North America, and some wildflower enthusiasts specialize in growing the more showy white and pink varieties. Large-flowered Trillium is particularly popular because of its large flower; it’s the state flower of Ohio and the provincial flower of Ontario. Conservationists report that most of the Large-flowered Trillium plants found in nurseries are probably stolen from the wild. That’s because the nurseries can’t afford the patience it takes to grow them; it can take two years for seeds to germinate and up to 10 years before a plant is large and strong enough to bloom.