Blue ridge wakerobin is a perennial herbaceous species that thrives in the shaded, moist woodlands of its native habitat. Characterized by its solitary, showy white bloom with three distinct petals atop a whorl of green, mottled leaves, each leaf broadly ovate in shape. The plant’s enigmatic beauty peaks in spring when it carpets forest floors, signaling the seasonal transition.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Trillium stamineum, the twisted trillium, also known as the Blue Ridge wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Its natural habitat is calcareous woodlands.
In 1901, Harbison compared T. stamineum to T. sessile. The former is distinguished by its pubescent stem, unusual petals, long erect stamens, and very short filaments.
Trillium stamineum is a perennial herbaceous plant that spreads by means of underground rhizomes. The plant has three sessile bracts (leaves) arranged in a whorl about a pubescent scape (stem) that rises directly from the rhizome 15 to 30 cm (5.9 to 11.8 in) high. The ovate leaves, 6.3 to 7.6 cm (2.5 to 3.0 in) long by 3.3 to 5 cm (1.3 to 2.0 in) wide, are bluish-green with strong mottling that fades with age.
T. stamineum flowers between March and May, depending on latitude. A solitary flower is carried directly on the leaves. Unlike other sessile-flowered trilliums, the petals spread horizontally (instead of vertically) exposing stiffly erect stamens 16 to 24 mm (0.6 to 0.9 in) long. The dark maroon petals, 1.5 to 2.8 cm (0.6 to 1.1 in) long by 0.3 to 0.6 cm (0.1 to 0.2 in) wide, have a distinctive twist along their major axis. The carrion-scented flower of this species attracts scavenging flies and other insects for pollination.
All flower parts (stamens, filaments, anthers, ovary, stigmas) are purple or dark purple. Even the fruit is purple. In 1975, Freeman described a form that is devoid of purple pigment, which he called Trillium stamineum f. luteum. That name is now regarded as a synonym.
II. How to Grow and Care
Blue ridge wakerobin is a perennial herbaceous species that thrives in the shaded, moist woodlands of its native habitat. Characterized by its solitary, showy white bloom with three distinct petals atop a whorl of green, mottled leaves, each leaf broadly ovate in shape. The plant’s enigmatic beauty peaks in spring when it carpets forest floors, signaling the seasonal transition.
Sunlight
In nature, blue ridge wakerobin grows on forest floors, in valleys, or in rock cracks in middle- and high-altitude areas. It is a shade-loving plant. When grown in a garden, it needs a shaded environment, such as under trees or on the shady side of buildings to avoid harsh, direct sunlight. Blazing light exposure can cause it to wither.
Temperature
Blue ridge wakerobin originates from North America and East Asia and like cool, moist habitats. It grows well in an environment with a temperature range of 8 to 12 ℃ and doesn’t tolerate high temperatures. It likes moisture and is not drought-resistant, and it prefers air humidity at 75% – 90%.
Watering
Newly-planted blue ridge wakerobin needs to be watered frequently to keep the soil from becoming dry. This is necessary until the plant adapts to the new environment and begins growing normally. Once adapted, blue ridge wakerobin doesn’t need to be watered very often. Just keep the soil moist and avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Blue ridge wakerobin likes loose, fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. The ideal pH value range is 5.0-6.5, and shouldn’t exceed 7.3. If the soil is barren or has poor air permeability, you can improve it by mixing in a small amount of organic fertilizer.
Fertilizing
Blue ridge wakerobin doesn’t require much fertilizing. Simply apply some organic fertilizers at planting and a small amount of manure compost after the frost season each spring. You can also apply a little low-nitrogen fertilizer (with a 5-10-10 NPK ratio) to facilitate blooming. Do not splash fertilizers onto the flowers or leaves.
Planting Instructions
Blue ridge wakerobin is not tolerant of transplanting, so the growing site needs to be chosen carefully. The planting site should be cool and shady, without nearby shallowly-rooted trees to compete with it for water. In the wild, the plant grows in humus-rich soils, so the planting soil also needs to be mixed with some humus.
Blue ridge wakerobin is best planted in the fall. Dig a 15 cm-deep planting pit, arrange and extend the plant’s roots neatly before putting it into the pit, cover the roots with soil, and press down lightly. It’s a good idea to cover the soil surface with organic matters like hay or shredded bark to retain moisture.
Propagation
Blue ridge wakerobin can propagate by sowing, but it takes 5-7 years after sowing for the plant to bloom. It can also propagate by plant division, which is usually performed after the flowering season. Carefully dig up its roots and divide the rhizome with a sharp knife, retaining at least 2 buds on each part. Bury these rhizomes back in the soil about 6 cm deep, and plant them 25 cm apart from one another. Plant division can quickly produce bloom-ready plants, but can also potentially cause the plants to die. Therefore, caution is advised in carrying out this method.
III. Harvesting and Storage
10-14 weeks after blue ridge wakerobin blooms, when the fruits turn brown, it’s time to harvest the seeds for sowing. Pick the fruits off the plant, squeeze lightly to crack them open, and find the ripe brown seeds inside. The seeds can be sown right away or placed in moist peat soil for refrigerated storage.
