Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Trillium pusillum

Texas Trillium · Dwarf Trillium · Dwarf Wakerobin

Family MelanthiaceaeGenus Trillium

A small white flower with three narrow wavy petals and yellow anthers, above three slim gray-green leaves on dry leaf litter.
FlowerFredlyfish4CC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.2-1 ft5-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.5-1.7 ft15-50 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Dwarf trillium flowers from March to early May. In Missouri it is commonly pollinated by the western honey bee, and its seeds are carried off by ants and harvestmen. Wikipedia: Trillium pusillum

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

82% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Trillium p. 223Public domain
Show the original text
Trillium (Llliaceae). Gibberelins are at least desirable if not requisite for both germination and the production of healthy seedlings. More work is necessary before an optimum procedure can be recommended. The GA-3 treatment was tried with fresh seeds of T. pusillum germ. 40-70-40-70-40(82%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Trillium p. 223. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page