Native Plants

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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Wednesday - April 28, 2010
From: Saugatuck, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Rare or Endangered Plants, Planting, Transplants, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Transplanting trilliums
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
What's the best time to transplant white trillium on my property on the shore of Lake Michigan?ANSWER:
When my mother dug up a trillium from the woods and planted it her flowerbed at the front of our home, my teenaged siblings and I all scolded her for her "illegal act". However, like our famous Texas Bluebonnet, Ontario's trillium is protected from picking/digging only by urban myth, not the law.
Trillium grandiflorum (white trillium) is not difficult to propogate by seed but can take a notoriously long time to grow to maturity after germination. So most of the trilliums you find for sale in nurseries are actually collected from the wild.
The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes, so I must encourage you to leave the plant where it is and try to propogate it by seed or rhizome division. You can find instructions in William Cullina's book , "Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Propogating Native Flowers of North America"
That being said, my mother's trillium blooms happily on in her front garden 30 years later. Be certain you do not damage the plant while digging and transplant it in mid to late summer, just before it goes dormant.
More Rare or Endangered Plants Questions
Native plants for Pflugerville, TX in blackland soil
March 21, 2008 - Mr. S-P,
I'm perusing the plant sale list for a couple of tall shrubs to plant on the sunny southwest side of my house, in Blackland soil. It is generally dry there because of the sun, but can ge...
view the full question and answer
Endangered species of trillium on disturbed soil in New York
April 19, 2006 - Hello, I live in Rochester New York, near a gully/ravine by woodland. Quite a gem. Anyway here's my question and concern. In the past 35 years there have been trillium in small "pockets" or sing...
view the full question and answer
Starting Venus Flytrap From Seed
September 05, 2013 - I am a high school student doing a project on the Venus flytrap and would like you to help me by answering the following questions: What are the Venus flytrap predators and prey? How to raise a Venus ...
view the full question and answer
Corrells false dragonhead
September 02, 2007 - I live in South Louisiana. I saw in a recent local paper a picture of Correll's false dragonhead and the small caption under the picture states that this flower is rare and hard to find. I took some...
view the full question and answer
Information about pink milkwort (Polygala incarnata)
June 07, 2008 - Why is the pink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata) and what is it's niche?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |