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Two questions about Trillium

18 years ago

Hello, I have a few trillium questions.

First: I've been watching the trilliums on my property...they have white seed pods (if I have used the term correctly). I read a post saying they will change to an orangy sticky colour before the seeds are ready to harvest....this colour change doesn't seem to be happening...am I being impatient or are the seeds ready now? (I did open one and the seeds looked whitish with a little orangey colour on one side?)

Second: if seeds are placed in the freezer then out for repeated cycles - can we "fast forward" their cycle? I realize that they take 5 years (or so) to flower after they are propogated, but I thought that they would be a fun one to try to winter sow.

Thanks for your help!

Renee

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Comments (3)

Trilliophile
18 years ago
Question 1
Different species of Trilliums have different color fruit. Yours is probablly T. grandiflorum, it is greenish white in color when ripe. The seeds will be brown with a white elaiosome (ant food) attached to the side.
Question 2
Trilliums have to be sown immediately. If you try and freeze one all you will get is a dead seed. Once the seed has been placed in an ant burrow or where ever, they go through their second stage of seed maturation. A ripe seed in the fruit is actually immature. They require time to become fully viable. Freeze it so soon and they die. Freeze it after it becomes mature and you will probably destroy the living tissue. Actually most T. seeds don't freeze because they are placed deep underground in ant burrows.
Many propagators who are better at this than you or I have spent their lives trying to hurry up Trilliums. You just have to wait, 5 years at the earliest, most likely 7.
Good Luck
T.
harlgr8dane
Original Author
18 years ago
Trillophile,
Thank you SO much - I have been reading everywhere, but there is some stuff you just can't find! Thank you! I've got lots of time...I'll set some of those 'lil seeds in the soil and wait for seven years... GRIN
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Judy_B_ON
18 years ago
You can speed up germination with refrigeration, not freezing. The freezer will kill them.

Once the seeds are ripe (they will be brown to tan not white in colour) mix them with some damp vermiculite in a baggie and place in the refrigerator for 90 days. Bring back into a warm place for 90 days, then back into the frig for 90 days, then back out. Check occasionally to make sure they are damp and to see if they have germinated. If they start to germinate, plant them into good potting soil immediately. Germination should occur when brought into the warm after the second cold, but may happen anytine.

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