Trillium tschonoskii

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Trillium tschonoskii
Light:Full Sun Part Shade Full Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:5
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:1'
Blooms:Mid Spring-Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Trillium tschonoskii

Propagation: Seed - best sown in a shaded cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1][2]. Stored seed should be sown in late winter or early spring. Seed usually germinates within 1 - 3 months at 15°c. Another report says that seeds produce a root after the first cold stratification but no shoot is produced until after a second winter[3], whilst yet another report says that the seed can take 3 years to germinate[4]. The seedlings are prone to damp off and must therefore be watered with care and given plenty of fresh air[3]. The young plants need to be overwintered in a cold frame for the first year and can then be planted out in late spring. It is very important that the pots become neither too dry nor too wet[3].

Division with care when the plants die down after flowering[2]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the following spring.

Cultivation: Prefers a deep well-drained woodland or humus-rich soil in a somewhat shady position that remains moist in the summer[5][6]. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil[2]. Grows well in open woodland[5]. Succeeds in deep shade[7]. Succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out[6].

This species is closely related to T. kamtschaticum[2].

Any transplanting is best done whilst the plants are in flower[2].

Plants can flower in two years from seed[3].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[8], though slugs are very fond of the leaves[4].

Range: E. Asia - Japan, Korea.

Habitat: Mountains in C. and S. Japan[9]. Shady places in rocky wooded ravines in humus-rich soils[6][10][2].

Edibility: Fruit[11][12]. No more details are given.

Medicinal: The root contains steroidal saponins, which have hormonal effects on the body[13][4]. They are being used in gynaecological and obstetric medicine[4].

Pollinators: Insects

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Links

References

  1. Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
  7. Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
  8. Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  9. Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
  10. Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
  11. Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  12. Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
  13. Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.