Plant Data Sheet

 

Species

Trillium ovatum

 

Range

British Columbia to Central California (www.wnps.org), CA OR WA CO ID MT WY (www.wildflower.org)

 

Climate, elevation

Low to middle elevations (Pojar and Mackinnon, 1994)

 

Local occurrence (where, how common)

Common in Western Washington forests.

 

Habitat preferences

Moist to wet woods, stream banks, shaded open areas.

 

Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)

Summer drought tolerant.

 

Associated species

 

May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)

Division. Seeds are covered with an aril called an elaisome that attracts ants, which disseminate the seed.

 

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Flowers from April to June. 

 

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Seeds have combinational dormancy where the radicle emerges after the first chilling stratification and the epicotyl emerges after a second chilling stratification. This requires two seasons for seedling emergence. 

 

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Seeds should be sown as soon as the seed ripens.

 

Recommended seed storage conditions

 

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Rhizome division or seed. Seeds do best when planted outdoors soon after fruits have ripened. Seedlings take many years to bloom. Divide rhizomes in fall. (www.wildflower.org).

 

Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)

Maintain even moisture levels until seedlings emerge.

 

Installation form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)

Division

 

Recommended planting density

Spacing; 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)

 

Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)

Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater (plantsdatabase.com)

 

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

If planting seeds, leaves will not usually appear until the second spring, and plants may take 5-7 years to reach flowering size.

 

Sources cited

http://www.wnps.org/plants/trillium_ovatum.html Washington State Native Plant Society

 

http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=native_plants_database Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

 

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2731.html

 

Pojar, Jim and Andrew MacKinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Washington, Oregon British Columbia & Alaska. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 527 p.

 

Data compiled by (student name and date)

Lara Johnson, April15th, 2003