Plant Profile: Trillium erectum f. albiflorum

Names

White Erect Trillium, White Wakerobin

  • Photo of Trillium erectum f. albiflorum (Trillium erectum f. albiflorums)

Phonetic Spelling:15172560890

Genus:Trillium

Species:erectum

Family:Melanthiaceae

The White Wakerobin, a perennial wildflower indigenous to North America, thrives in the mountainous regions of North Carolina. This species typically prefers drier environments and is commonly found in acidic soils, often inhabiting open, dry woodlands or lush mesic forests, particularly within laurel and rhododendron thickets at mid to high elevations.

In spring, it showcases striking white flowers with three petals, featuring a dark purplish ovary at the center. The green bracts form a whorl around the stem, making it an excellent choice for naturalizing in woodland settings, as it spreads through rhizomes to create clumps.

Regarding pests and diseases, the White Wakerobin faces few significant issues. While slugs and snails may occasionally pose a threat, and leaf spot, rust, and smut can arise as minor diseases, the plant does not adapt well to transplantation.

For further details, refer to information on Trillium erectum.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Feature Summary

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Image Gallery

Tags

#white flowers
#moths
#shade tolerant
#spring flowers
#mountains
#acidic soil tolerant
#wildflower garden
#clumping
#naturalized area
#NC Native Pollinator Plant
#partial shade tolerant
#HS302
#pollinators
#host plant
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Feature Summary

Attributes
Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers. Moths use this plant as a larval host. Small mammals enjoy the berries as a food source.
EDIBLE PARTS: Young, unfolding leaves HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Cook in boiling, salted water for ten minutes and serve like greens. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
Perennial
Fruit
6 parted berry-like capsule with seeds that are dispersed by ants.
Capsule
Berry
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
Flowers
White flower has dark ovary in the center. 3 petals
2-3 rays/petals
Leaves
Whorl of three stemless elliptical to broadly ovate leaves that are actually bracts.
Elliptical
Ovate
Stem
Poisonous to Humans
Toxicity unknown, but caution because of its relationship with known toxic plants.
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Erect
Spreading
Clumping
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Mass Planting
Small groups
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Moths

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Attributes

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Country Or Region Of Origin

United States

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Wildlife Value

Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers. Moths use this plant as a larval host. Small mammals enjoy the berries as a food source.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Edibility

EDIBLE PARTS: Young, unfolding leaves HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Cook in boiling, salted water for ten minutes and serve like greens. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Fruit

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Fruit Description

6 parted berry-like capsule with seeds that are dispersed by ants.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Fruit Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Flowers

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Description

White flower has dark ovary in the center. 3 petals

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Leaves

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Description

Whorl of three stemless elliptical to broadly ovate leaves that are actually bracts.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Stem

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Stem Description

Unbranched green stem

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Stem Color

grass
Green

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Poisonous to Humans

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Poison Symptoms

Unknown

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Poison Toxic Principle

Toxicity unknown, but caution because of its relationship with known toxic plants.

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Whole Plant Traits

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Cultural Conditions

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum Landscape

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Trillium erectum f. albiflorum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees