Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - June 10, 2008

From: Rockaway Beach, OR
Region: Northwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Pictures and sources for black trilliums
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Do you have pictures and/or sources for Black Trilliums?

ANSWER:

Other than references for the fantasy novel series Trillium (Black Trillium, Blood Trillium, Golden Trillium, Lady of the Trillium and Sky Trillium), Mr. Smarty Plants hasn't been able to find much about black trilliums. One person commenting in the UBC (University of British Columbia) Botanical Garden Forum says that they have seen black trilliums in Ontario, Canada, but wonders if they were so red that they appeared black. Another participant in the forum believes that the anthocyanins responsible for the petal color can be so concentrated as to cause them to look black. I suspect that this is the explanation for the black trillium, plus the fact that the blossoms darken as the flowers age. The species this person in the forum refers to is Trillium erectum (red trillium) (with more photos from CalPhotos).

Other trilliums with red flowers are:

Trillium chloropetalum (giant wakerobin) with more photos from CalPhotos.

Trillium cuneatum (little sweet Betsy) has dark red flowers and one of the photos shows a very dark flower, but I suspect it is a problem with the color quality of the photo.

Trillium gracile (Sabine River wakerobin)

Trillium kurabayashii (giant purple wakerobin) with more photos

Trillium ludovicianum (Louisiana wakerobin)

Trillium maculatum

Trillium petiolatum

Trillium sessile (toadshade) with more photos from CalPhotos.

Trillium vaseyi (sweet wakerobin)


Trillium erectum

Trillium chloropetalum

Trillium cuneatum

Trillium cuneatum

Trillium gracile

Trillium ludovicianum

Trillium sessile

Trillium vaseyi

 

More Seed and Plant Sources Questions

Looking for seed for Clematis drummondii in Granbury, TX.
November 29, 2010 - I am trying to landscape with native Texas plants. I want a Clematis drummondii and have no idea where to get one. I read it grows readily from seeds, but I cannot locate any. Can you help. Also, ...
view the full question and answer

The Importance of Sourcing Local Genotypes
September 09, 2015 - I would like to respond to the answer I got to my Mr. Smarty Plants question about native cultivars vs. straight species. 1) So if I, like many gardeners, don't have access to native plants with a lo...
view the full question and answer

Number of seeds per pound for Curvepod fumewort from Bridger MT
June 17, 2010 - Do you know or where can I find the number of seeds per pound for Corydalis curvisiliqua-scrambled eggs?
view the full question and answer

Purchase source for Jamaica Sawgrass
November 09, 2008 - Any idea where to find this plant? Does the center sell them? Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense (Crantz) Kükenth. Jamaica swamp sawgrass, Jamaican Saw-grass, Saw-grass Cyperaceae (Sedge Family) ...
view the full question and answer

Resource for information on phytoremediation
April 27, 2006 - Hello, I've been searching for a resource that will tell me which contaminants certain plants are able to absorb (in terms of phytoremediation). Thanks so much - I do hope to hear from you so...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.