Sheffield's Seed Company Page

Welcome to our web page advertising the Trillium grandiflorum, also known as the Large White Trillium or White Trillium. This perennial plant is a simple and graceful beauty, native to eastern North America.

Growing from a short rhizome, the Trillium grandiflorum produces a single, showy white flower atop a whorl of three leaves. These large, odorless flowers can reach 4 to 7 cm in length, making them quite impressive compared to other species of Trillium. The petals of the flower are shaped like the leaves and curve outward, giving the flower a distinctive funnel shape. These beautiful flowers open from late spring to early summer, adding a touch of elegance to the surrounding landscape.

Trillium grandiflorum is most commonly found in rich, mixed upland forests. Its attractive three-petaled white flowers rise above a whorl of three, leaf-like bracts, making it easily recognizable. In fact, this plant was designated the provincial emblem of Ontario in 1937, highlighting its significance and beauty.

One of the reasons Trillium grandiflorum is so popular in cultivation is due to the size of its flowers and its relative ease of cultivation. It is a perennial that forms clonal colonies, with a single rootstock often forming large and dense groups of plants.

In terms of taxonomy, Trillium grandiflorum belongs to the family Melanthiaceae and is classified as a monocotyledonous, herbaceous perennial. It can be found in various parts of eastern North America, from northern Quebec to the southern parts of the United States, including the Appalachian Mountains and even Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Trillium grandiflorum is an example of a spring ephemeral, a plant whose life-cycle is synchronized with that of the deciduous woodland it favors. It thrives in well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil, usually in second- or young-growth forests. Depending on geographical factors, it flowers from late April to early June.

However, the popularity of Trillium grandiflorum as a garden specimen has led to conservation concerns. Most commercially available plants are collected from the wild, which has resulted in the species being declared vulnerable in some regions. Habitat destruction and other pressures also pose a threat to the plant's survival.

Despite these challenges, Trillium grandiflorum remains a beloved and sought-after plant. Its simple elegance and large white flowers make it a true woodland beauty. If you are a fan of native North American plants and want to add a touch of grace to your garden, consider the Trillium grandiflorum.