Trillium 2010

[Stephenb]

To me it looks rather close to the southern variant of flexipes but I think that the naming of these is somewhat arbitrary. There has been too many splitters working in this genus. Why do I prefer to call it flexipes?
Flowers are bell-shaped. There seems to be a clear knick in the pedicel behind the flower. The petals are not as narrow and separated as typical erectum but not as wide and overlapping as in sulcatum. I assume that a close look will reveal that the petals are fairly thick compared with some species. I do not think that the colur of the ovary is diagnostic. I have a batch of seedlings from a similar plat where all colours from white to dark maroon are present. Strangely enough they also all had drooping pedicels.
I hope I have added to the confusion  
Göte

Thanks for this! My thickness perceptionary organ couldn't really detect a difference between this species and erectum. Below a flower close-up and a photo of the nick..

Another one flowering I got as Trillium erectum "Pale Yellow Form" and I now see from comments above that this isn't erectum (petals too broad). So, what is this one's real identity?

[bulborum]

Hello Stephan

I bought this one as Trillium beige
but I can't confirm a correct name

Roland

[gote]

Those who have studied the erectum/simile/flexipes/sulcatum/vasyeii complex in the field report that there are all kinds of intermediate forms. Also that some species blend seamlessly from one location to another. The whole concept of species seems to float in this case.
The petals of the southern form of flexipes may not be actually thicker than those of other species but they give a visual impression of substance.
This property, however, may vary with age of the plant. The one I posted as possibly simile with flattish flowers had less substance to the flowers in the first years.
Cheers
Göte
   

[gote]

One of the latest: Vaseyii. The petals and sepals are much more narrow than in postings by others. These flowers are very distinct.
Göte

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely though, and very dark.

[jomowi]

Here is a question for Trillium growers.  What conditions do you use to grow T. recurvatum?  Trilliums do very well outside for me but this one has sulked for 8 years.  Its still there and the corm elongates slowly.  T. undulatum purchased at the same time grows and flowers well.  I have moved T. recurvatum twice hoping to find a spot it likes, no luck.  The soil is full of compost and nice and moist, the site is shady.  My backup plan is to have several pots of seedlings. 

Comments please.

[Maggi Young]

I know that John Humphries from Hampshire, long ago in the old Forum,  told us that he grew it  on a hummock to improve drainage and had added some lime. I got the impression it wasn't exactly romping away for him either.....

[TheOnionMan]

Here is a question for Trillium growers.  What conditions do you use to grow T. recurvatum?  Trilliums do very well outside for me but this one has sulked for 8 years.  Its still there and the corm elongates slowly.  T. undulatum purchased at the same time grows and flowers well.  I have moved T. recurvatum twice hoping to find a spot it likes, no luck.  The soil is full of compost and nice and moist, the site is shady.  My backup plan is to have several pots of seedlings. 

Comments please.

I don't do anything special for mine, they grow where many of my Trillium grow, on a fairly steep slope under a Magnolia 'Forrest Pink' tree.  They get some direct sun initially until the after the tree finishes flowering, and begins leafing out.  The soil is our usual rocky-silty-clay soil, on the acidic side, that's been amended with decomposed pine back mulch.  Shown is a photo from 2005 taken with a flash, although previously in this Trillium 2010 thread I've shown this species.  Because of the slope, the soil tends to be on the dry side... I would not characterize the location as "nice and moist"... maybe try a drier site.

I was recently given several plants each of a different looking form with smaller more oval leaves (in both mottled-leaf and plain green-leaf forms), which was growing in rich humusy soil in good light (some sun) in a flat raised bed.

[PeterT]

Trillium recurvatum grows for me in a north facing raised bed below a retaining wall. The soil is sandy loam with a lot of leaf mould. Iris cristatas, anemonellas, Uvularias, Erethroniums all grow well alongside it and I occasionly water a little if there is a long dry spell. I have perhaps 40 - 45 inches of rain per year, I planted it out 3 years ago, I will try to post a picture tomorrow

[t00lie]

Hello Brian

My T. recurvatum in the garden performed like yours until i added lime --although it is never going to be a 'romper' here either.
Coincidentially i received the latest NZ Trillium Group Newsletter ,(and 2010 seedlist), this last week .In it was an article listing which Trilliums liked lime and which didn't.

Cheers Dave.

[bulborum]

Hello Dave

Can you tell us which Trilliums are "Lime liker's" and which not

Roland

[jomowi]

Thanks folks, something to think about.

[t00lie]

[quote author=t00lie link=topic=5186.msg156022#msg156022 date=1276220
Coincidentially i received the latest NZ Trillium Group Newsletter ,(and 2010 seedlist), this last week .In it was an article listing which Trilliums liked lime and which didn't.

Cheers Dave.

[/quote]

Hello Dave

Can you tell us which Trilliums are "Lime liker's" and which not

Roland

Hello Roland

Part of the  NZTG article is copied below--------

" West Coast Trilliums that do not like lime

T. albidum ---T.angustipetalum---T. chloropetalum---T.kurabayshii---T.parviflorum ---T.rivale.
==========================================================================
Those on this coast that will tolerate lime

T.ovatum ---T.ovatum var maculosum---T.hibbersonii.

==========================================================================
East Coast Trilliums that like lime

T.cuneatum---T. decipiens (a little)---T. decumbens---T. flexipes---T.grandiflorums (plenty)---T.luteum---T.maculatum---T.nivale (plenty)---T. recurvatum ---T. sessile---T.stamineum---T.viride.
===========================================================================
Those on this coast that dislike lime

T.catesbaei---T.discolor---T. erectum.

Those not mentioned or when in doubt ,don't use lime ".
===========================================================================
My only experiences of liming were, as i mentioned above in my previous posting in respect of T. recurvatum --and also limestone chips ,old mortar for a trough of T.nivale .

As an aside-- i heavily mulch all my trillium beds every second season with pine needles--in between years i throw on all my used/old potting mix of peat/bark which i presume still has traces of the previously added dolomite lime.

Interestingly there has been some comment earlier that maybe fertilizing T. hibbersonii may cause it's demise --although i have lost it in the garden proper  my current plant is growing well in a pot of peat/bark, with added dolomite lime, osmocote, nitro blue and ........

I have a good friend ,(ex farmers wife) ,who feeds some of her T.s by using pelleted sheep manure .I have started to do this as well as although i like to think i can grow T.'s reasonably well  her plants have that 'x' factor.

Cheers dave.   

[bulborum]

Thank you Dave

Good to keep this information on a secure place
Funny to get information from a country
who does not have native bulbs
but has his own Trillium group

Roland

[Maggi Young]

Good to keep this information on a secure place
Funny to get information from a country
who does not have native bulbs
but has his own Trillium group

It's my impression that the NZ Trillium Group is a very vibrant bunch of folks... who all seem to have really great Trillium collections.... I remember seeing photos from many of these on the Forum and I know , for instance, that our friend Bronwyn McCone is passionate about these plants and has got fabulous clumps of healthy trilliums. 




t00lie, many thanks to you and to the NZTG for the  sharing of info from the bulletin.