THE ELEGANT and showy flowers of this fascinating woodland plant are eagerly awaited each spring. Also called wake robins, trilliums produce handsome flowers in pure white - some with dark purpie or yellow centers - rose-pink, or streaked with maroon. Enthusiasm for trilliums is so great in Europe, where the popular plants are not native, that rare species and forms sell for fantastic prices. In Canada, the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is the provincial flower of Ontario and, in the United States, it has been featured by the Post Office in a wildfiower stamp series. Best known of the trilliums with its 3-inch flowers, this species announces spring in large drifts over shady, moist ground.
This first book-length treatment of this graceful garden plant covers trilliums world-wide. Part field guide and part gardener’s hand-book, it is intended for gardeners, naturalists, and amateur and professional botanists. The first section includes chapters on the history of the genus, seed germination, flower colors, hybridization, and conservation. Identification keys in the second section to North American and Asiatic species enable readers to identify unknown trilliums quickly. All 43 species are covered with information on habit, form, and varieties, and with special attention to cultural requirements. The discussion of propagation is of special interest for commercial growers since many trilliums are known to be difficult to propagate and are famous for taking four to seven years to flower from seed. The book also contains distribution maps for each species and fine color photographs of every generally accepted species. Trilliums offers something for all who love these beautiful plants. |
