Trillium flexipes

Trillium flexipes is part of a group of perennial plants with rhizomes native to North America, quite rare in cultivation, highly sought after by collectors of unusual plants. Trillium flexipes, distinguished by its beautiful stature, is also one of the easiest to acclimatise in the garden, in moist soil. The plant blooms in spring, above a trio of lush and beautifully spread flat leaves, a white flower, more or less pendulous.  It slowly spreads in partial shade, forming unusual and beautiful clumps in any light and moist soil. It will look stunning planted en masse in a woodland garden or in an exotic-inspired border, in partial shade.

Trillium flexipes, previously classified in the Liliaceae family, now belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. It is a distant North American relative of the fragrant Solomon's Seal that populates European woodlands. It is native to the Midwest of the United States, where it blooms in spring in alluvial forests and on rocky slopes, in undergrowth or along watercourses, on sometimes limestone, loamy or peaty soil.

A herbaceous and perennial plant, Trillium flexipes develops in spring from an underground rhizome that does not like to be disturbed. It becomes dormant as soon as the soil dries out, in the course of summer, or in autumn due to the cold. The plant produces leafy stems in spring, standing at an average of 40 cm (16in) above the ground. Thanks to its rhizomes, this Trillium will slowly form small clumps occupying at least 40 cm (16in) of the ground. Each stem bears only 3 magnificent leaves, arranged horizontally. The leaves are round to lanceolate in shape, beautifully undulate, of a beautiful bright green, traversed by prominent parallel veins. They measure about 15 cm (6in) long and 13 cm (5in) wide. 

The flowers appear in April-May, more or less early depending on the climate, most often above the trio of leaves, at the terminal part of the stems. The flower is carried by a long peduncle more or less erect or arching. The flower is 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) wide, composed of 3 petals of white colour, more rarely pale yellow. Flowers are pollinated by insects. The flowers give way to 3 cm (1in) berries, angular, with 6 sides, turning red when ripe, exuding a fruity scent. In Trilliums, the seeds are dispersed by ants. Plants grown from seeds can take several years before flowering. 

A bit slow to establish, Trillium flexipes nevertheless lives long and requires little care where it thrives. It should be planted in groups of 3 specimens in shade or dappled sunlight (introduce multiple plants in a small area), in rich soil that remains moist for as long as possible. It will blend well with other small perennials that enjoy the same environment, but with different flowering times or interesting foliage: consider, for example, Ophiopogons, Saxifraga, small ferns, Asarum... It can be grown in pots, with careful watering. Whether in the ground or in pots, it always pairs well with Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana which will take over after its flowering.

The Latin name Trillium derives from the fact that the different parts of these plants are ternary: from the unique collection of three leaves on each stem, to the construction of the flower, composed of 3 green sepals, 3 coloured petals, six stamens and 3 fused carpels.