Trilliums
Forum Archives
moogie
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: May-24-2009 at 6:16pm
I am trying to grow trillium in my garden. Should I fertilize ? If so, what type should I use ? What type of mulch would be best ?
greenmann
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: May-25-2009 at 9:03am
are you trying native trillium or one of the exotics? In general, the native trillium are adapted to our soils, so as long as you have a good, humus rich woodland type soil or amended garden soil, they should do fine. I don't find trillium to be particularly heavy feeders myself, but the trillium experts do recommend fertilizing. Not sure why, except that most gardeners like to see their plants grow explosively fast, lol. But here is the thing- the more fert you use, the more water the plant will need. Less fert, and the plant won't need as much water, as it won't be growing so fast. So, take your pick. The plant should grow just fine either way, so long as the soils are good and there isn't too much sun for it to be happy.
As to mulch, leaf mulch is best if you have it. Especially alder or maple leaves. They break down to a beautiful soil for them. Needle duff is also excelent for them, if you are growing the native
Trillim ovatum especially, as that is what it naturally grows in. Beauty bark or wood chips, only if they are well rotted already.Otherwise just use compost or something similar.
Green Man Gardens design and consulting with a focus on native plants and wildlife habitat
moogie
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: May-25-2009 at 1:36pm
Thanks for the info.
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: May-26-2009 at 7:57am
Ill try and find time later to write more, but for now, I'll say it is very important NOT to over fertilse them. They can die if you over do it.
Fern IP IP: 207.200.116.66 Edit Post Delete Post Hide Post Move Post silver_ creek
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: May-27-2009 at 6:46am
And any of the west coast trillium will adapt to our drier summers, given good rich soil. This includes Trillium ovatum, our local native, Trillium chloropetalum, Trillium rivale and Trillium kurabayshi. Also easy and very adaptive are eastern natives Trillium luteum, Trillium simile, and Trillium pusillum.
Terry M. Silver Creek Garden Zone 8a, Sunset Zone 4
Joy C
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: May-27-2009 at 4:27pm
When they began a new development in a wooded area near our home, before the earth moving machines bladed them all down I "liberated" a bunch of trilliums that were in harms way,(don't tell anybody, because I think it was illegal at that time to dig them up.) I planted them under the pine trees and they thrived without any attention from me, just time and mother nature. This spring, a single bulb I planted had multiplied and multiplied, and I counted 32 flowers in that spot. Not bad, eh?
Joy
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton