Plant of the Week – Using Trillium in Your Landscaping

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year, that means more cold and gray for us to start 2018. Not all is lost however, there are lots of great festivals and events going on around the Indy area that are sure to help keep your spirits warm! Let’s start warming up and thinking of Spring with this weeks Plant of the Week, Trillium. Always one of the first smiling faces each Spring, find out where it can fit into your landscaping!

Why Use Trillium

A natural beauty when found in the woods or in your landscaping, Trillium are one of the best early blooming options for the landscape. Small in stature, this wildflower stands out due to its bright white, yellow or purple flower. Their short blooming period can be overlooked due to being one of the first signs of Spring each year. Trillium is found in Hoosier forests all over the state! Many of these wild varieties can be found at local nurseries and provide an extremely low maintenance addition to your landscaping.

Dutchman’s Breeches (pictured) is a great partner for Trillium in your landscaping

Where to Use Trillium

Trillium must be used in a location that mimics its natural habitat, the woods. Mix this with Ferns, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Bleeding Heart or any shade loving perennial to create your own woodland landscape. I love to tuck Trillium around the base of rocks and trees to add an early burst of color to a space. You can plant them throughout the woodland understory and allow them to naturalize as well.

How to Care for Trillium

Provide shade and soil that is well-draining and higher in organic matter. Any wooded location will do just fine! Given these conditions your Trillium will need zero care on your behalf once planted in the ground. What’s not to love about ZERO maintenance?

What does Eagleson Landscape Co. Think

Trillium can be used with many other Spring blooming flowers like Daffodil, Bloodroot and Crocus

I consider Trillium more of a seasoning to a landscape meal. Wonderful additions to any landscaping, but certainly not a plant to use as a center piece. I love wildflowers, so Trillium is right up my alley and I would certainly recommend using these in any landscape. However, make sure you have plenty of other floral interest before adding these to your homes garden. Read more about Trillium here and decide if they are right for your home!

Sam Eagleson