Explore Plants
Native Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn
Trillium gracile J.D. Freeman
Slender trillium, Graceful trillium, Sabine River trillium, Sabine River wake-robin
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
USDA Symbol: trgr6
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
This lovely trillium has a natural range that essentially follows the Sabine River bottom along the border of Texas and Louisiana, and it requires the conditions found in the pine forests characteristic of that region: loose, moist but well-drained, acidic soil, medium shade, and no disturbance. Its mottled green leaves and inconspicuous blooms appear briefly in spring before disappearing for the rest of the year. In their setting, these plants are quite decorative, but they take years to become established and decades to expand into a colony. Existing plants should be treasured, as they are a sign of undisturbed woodland.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Oblanceolate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute , Obtuse
Leaf Base: Cuneate
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Size Notes: 8 to 12 inches high
Leaf: Variegated light green and dark green
Flower: Flowers 2 inches
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Green , PurpleBloom Time: Apr
Bloom Notes: Color maroon, turning yellow or yellow-green with age. Some forms with yellow or yellow-green blooms. Up close, flowers have the earthy smell of morels.
Distribution
USA: AR , LA , TXNative Distribution: Extreme southwestern Arkansas down Sabine River bottom to southeast Texas
Native Habitat: Shaded pine forests
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained acid sands and loams, especially the kind favored by pine trees
Conditions Comments: Prefers the conditions of a pine forest floor.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A fine herb-layer colonizer for the woodland garden. Its presence signifies undisturbed woodland soil.Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Fresh seed. Do not start in greenhouse; plant seed directly in soil.
Maintenance: If grown in its preferred habitat, requires no maintenance, only patience, as it takes years to establish itself and decades to form a colony.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Pictures and sources for black trilliums
June 10, 2008
Do you have pictures and/or sources for Black Trilliums?
view the full question and answer
Bibliography
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1987 VOL. 4, NO.1 - One Million Bequest Announced, Lady Bird Johnson On Celebrating Four Years, Spri...
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Trillium gracile in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Trillium gracile in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Trillium gracile
Metadata
Record Modified: 2009-03-19Research By: TWC Staff, GDG
