The Great White Trillium
Jennifer Hartford
The Great White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is not only the SLGC logo flower, it is also the state wildflower of Ohio. Trilliums are spring blooming woodland wildflowers with delicate blooms. Their petals, leaves and sepals are all grouped in threes. Trillium grandiflorum is a native plant, and can be found in 88 counties in Ohio. Profiting from the sunlight filtering through the leafless trees, Trilliums bloom in early spring.
In Ohio, they usually bloom sometime in April. Trilliums are ephemeral plants; they only bloom for a short time, then die back and become dormant. The plants are beautiful to look at, but the blooms should not be picked. Picking the flower may prevent the plant from making food for the the next year, causing it to die. A good spot to see woodland wildflowers in our area is The Brandywine Gorge Loop in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. If you are in the Boston, Massachusetts area, the Garden in the Woods has a week dedicated to Trillium in mid-May. They have 21 different Trillium species growing in drifts throughout the landscape. The garden showcases many native plants, and it is a wonderful spot to visit. Spring is just around the corner; I hope you can enjoy some of our native woodland wildflowers.
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