Sweet Betsy Trillium

Sweet Betsy Trillium

Sweet Betsy trillium (Trillium cuneatum), commonly known as wood lily or toadshade, is native to the southeastern region of the United States. It can is regularly from Kentucky to North Carolina and down to Mississippi. This plant is grown from an underground rhizome and will produce an extension of this rhizome (often confused with a stem) that can grow from 12" to 18" above ground in the spring. Different varieties have different leaf shapes and coloring, but this one has three 3" to 7" leaves the form at the top of the rhizome and include shades of dark green, light green, and silver in a mottled pattern that somewhat resembles a toad's skin.

The Sweet Betsy Trillium grows best in zones 5-8.

 The single flower that forms can vary in color from yellowish-bronze to maroon to deep burgundy, and can bloom from late March to early May. They have a slightly sweet fragrance and will form seeds at the end of their life cycle, which will then be taken and distributed by ants. Sweet Betsy doesn't suffer from many serious pests or disease vulnerabilities. Things to watch for are snails, slugs, and the occasional leaf spot. Care should be taken when transplanting. This plant is a welcome addition to native plant gardens and woodland gardens, and can even be used in rock gardens if kept in a shady area.

The Sweet Betsy Trillium is a perennial that grows best in shady gardens.

They are very easy to grow and low maintenance. This flower reaches about 8-10 inches in height. It gets the name "Toad" from the camouflage looking spots on the leaves. This flower has purple blooms and blooms in early-Spring. All varieties of this plant will have three leaves or bracts and a solitary flower that can either be present with or without a stalk, depending on the variety. This is a variety that doesn't have a stem, so it is called a sessile form. Sweet Betsy Trillium ships bare root as bulbs.

The Sweet Betsy Trillium is shipped bare root.