Trillium

Many people are familiar with trilliums as woodland plants and as Ontario’s provincial flower, but there are two species that call the Canadian prairie provinces home. The nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum) is found from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan and south nearly to the Carolinas, though it is extremely rare in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It produces white (or occasionally pink), exquisite, single flowers in late spring or early summer. The down-facing, pendant blooms are enchanting. It is a stunning (although not flashy) garden plant.

The western trillium (Trillium ovatum) can be found all along North America’s west coast and through some parts of the Rockies including Idaho and Montana. Waterton Lakes National Park is the only place in Alberta it has ever been recorded. It grows in rich forest or along riverbanks, often under douglas fir or in aspen woods and in the company of ferns. It requires moisture and although very showy, it is rarely seen as it blooms for only a short time, flowers early, and then quickly goes dormant. Although fairly easy to cultivate, it is rarely available to gardeners. It is highly resentful of disturbance and from seed to bloom has been known to take as little as six years or as long as 15 years!

Although trilliums have no pest or disease issues, they are much loved by deer. Deer will go out of their way to eat these plants, so if deer are an issue in your garden, be sure to protect your trilliums!