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 December
2003
 Phacelia
sericea
November
2003
Campanula
rotundifolia
October
2003
Tulipa
batalanii
September
2003
Allium
oreophilum
August
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canadensis
July
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Pterocephalus
pinardii
June
2003
Campanula
kemulariae
May
2003
Delphinium
glareosum
April
2003
Anemone
ranunculoides
 March
2003
Trillium
nivale
February
2003
Adonis
vernalis
January
2003
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii
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Plant
of the Month
March
2003
Trillium
nivale
by Iza Goroff
Trillium
nivale, the Snow Trillium, is a species in the
Trilliaceae, the Trillium family, a family which contains 5
or six genera, including Daiswa, Paris, Kinugasa, Scoliopus,
and (perhaps) Trillidium, all of which contain interesting
plants, but few of which are as showy as Trillium. Trillium
was once considered to be in the Liliaceae, the Lily family,
but DNA studies have shown a wide gap between the two
families.
Trillium
nivale is native to eastern USA with most of its
distribution immediately south of the glaciated areas of the
Midwest. According to Trilliums, Frederick W. Case,
Jr. and Roberta B. Case, there are two ecotypes: one adapted
to flood plain survival (found in Michigan), another to
limestone outcrops (found in Indiana). Many of the attached
pictures are taken by Kirk Zufelt of the superior Indiana
form near Bloomington, Indiana. My encounter with
Trillium nivale in the wild was
on a natural soil bank in south central Wisconsin. It is
native to gravely, low humus, alkaline soils, seeds not
germinating on adjacent acid soils.
Trillium nivale does best where
it has little competition. It tends to grow where there is
deciduous shade. It blooms in March, going dormant in early
summer, a true spring ephemeral.
Trillium
nivale is one of the tiniest of its genus. Its height
as its flower opens may be as little as 1" - 2" (3 - 5 cm).
Later its stem may lengthen to from 2" - 4" ( 5 -10 cm). Its
three leaves are each as little as 2/3 " to as much as
almost 2" long. Depending on the particular clone the
flower's petals may range from as short as just over 1/2" to
as much as 1.5". Its petals may be flat or recurved. The
anthers can have greenish yellow to golden yellow pollen, a
color which can light up the flower's interior.
Although
trilliums are frequently sold as bulbs, they are not. The
permanent part of the plant is a rhizome, an underground
stem which tends to grow parallel to the ground surface, an
inch or two below. Although it is possible that the rhizome
may branch to produce multiple stems or offsets, a rhizome
may produce neither, even after many years. By partially
cutting through a rhizome one may induce multiple stems. The
most certain way of multiplying
Trillium nivale is by seeds
sown into a medium mixed with lime chips, and given cold
treatment over a winter. From germination
Trillium nivale takes about 4
years to flower.
Trillium
nivale grows well with limestone rocks or limestone
chips in relatively dry locations, unlike most trilliums
which require much more humus. It is best in relatively cool
exposures, especially in rock gardens in southern
states.
Although
superficially similar in size and name to the Western
Trillium rivale, they are not
closely related. Trillium
nivale's closest relative may be the much more
difficult Trillium undulatum,
the Painted Trillium which requires a very acid soil.
Trillium nivale is the
outstanding Trillium for the Eastern USA rock garden.
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