Trillium 2012

[Shadylanejewel]

Trillium kurabayashii finally showing some color.  This is over a week behind previous years.

Also, a little offset with a double set of leaves.

[Jan]

Trillium rhombifolium

[Shadylanejewel]

Very nice large group of trillium Jan.     They appear very similar to my Trillium flexipes.

Yesterday morning we had a freeze and a bit of snow.  The first photo shows how T. kurabayashii looked at 8:45 am and then again at 11:04 am.

[ronm]

Does anyone know if I need any sort of paperwork to bring seed bought from the USA into the UK please?

[Shadylanejewel]

Hi Ron,

A google search led me to this document (looks like it is from 2002/03) - http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/seeds/seedCertification/documents/seedImports.pdf

Seems to be the equivalent of our USDA - options for contacting them - http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/contacts/

You may want to also post your question in the Seed Exchange section - although Maggi will probably be along shortly with assistance. 

[Maggi Young]

Does anyone know if I need any sort of paperwork to bring seed bought from the USA into the UK please?

That Defra paper refers to commercial  quantities of  crop and fodder seeds mainly.
For small quantities of seed of garden plants, these can just be send in the post.


http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/personal-import/pdf/personal-plants.pdf

[ronm]

Thank you Julie and Maggi. Seems I'm sorted, ( provided a few ounces is classed as a small amount ). I'll follow the lead to find out.

[Shadylanejewel]

Thank you Maggi!  

[John Aipassa]

Julie,

Your photos of your kurabayashii have tempted me to shoot a photo of one of mine. This one is the furthest when it comes to developing above ground. Between 15 and 20 centimeters already. Others are well above the ground too or just a couple of centimeters, but with these spring temperatures around here (10 to 12 degrees centigrade) everything is speeding up to appear.

[Michael J Campbell]

First Trillium this year.

Trillium chloropetalum

[Shadylanejewel]

Beautiful dark chloropetalum Michael!

John - I'd keep a close eye on the vertical spots along the stem on your kurabayashii.  I noticed similar markings on the stem of a trillium at a nursery in Oregon, it turned out to be Urocystis trillii aka smut.    I really hope it is not.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6303.0

T. kurabayashii with five stems all with flowers from a single growth point this year.  

Seedlings of kurabayashii - looks like one may be yellow.  

[John Aipassa]

John - I'd keep a close eye on the vertical spots along the stem on your kurabayashii.  I noticed similar markings on the stem of a trillium at a nursery in Oregon, it turned out to be Urocystis trillii aka smut.    I really hope it is not.

Naaah, tell me that it isn't smut, please tell me.....please.... can you ? Ooh well -sigh-, if it is, than I will have to deal with it .

I have just taken a picture of the stems. What do you reckon?

[Shadylanejewel]

 

Unfortunately John, that is exactly what the plant looked like prior to those areas splitting open.  If they are in your garden, you may want to dig them up before they split as that is how the spores are spread.  I am terribly sorry to be the bearer of this bad news. 

[John Aipassa]

Hi Julie,

No you are not the bearer of bad news. The way I see it, I have to thank you for your vigilance . Now I have the chance to prevent the fungus to develop mature sori and keep it from spreading even further. Lots and lots of other smaller kurabs are emerging in this kurab bed including many first year seedlings, so it would be terrible to see the whole bed destroyed.

It does hurt terribly though

[Shadylanejewel]

No you are not the bearer of bad news. The way I see it, I have to thank you for your vigilance . Now I have the chance to prevent the fungus to develop mature sori and keep it from spreading even further. Lots and lots of other smaller kurabs are emerging in this kurab bed including many first year seedlings, so it would be terrible to see the whole bed destroyed.

It does hurt terribly though

I'm glad you have that attitude.  Preventing the spread would be my first priority.

I noticed you also posted to the Trillium list http://mailman.science.uu.nl/pipermail/trillium-l/2012-March/date.html and already have some responses! 

I agree that you should at least dig the plant and remove and discard all the soil. I would even remove soil from the bed around where that plant was growing at least as much as you can.  Treatment using the fungicide recommended by Janos is worth a try.  Maybe in combination with John L's recommendation and remove the foliage down to the rhizome.

Good Luck - I'm keeping fingers and toes and everything else crossed for you!