Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seed Collection Time:
Mid to late summer — typically July through early August, depending on region and bloom time.
Signs seeds are ready:
After flowering, Red Trillium produces a fleshy, reddish to purplish fruit (berry-like capsule).
When ripe, the fruit softens and may split naturally, revealing shiny tan to brown seeds with elaiosomes (fleshy appendages ants use for dispersal).
Seeds are firm and fully developed when they separate easily from the fruit.
Check frequently—seeds are dispersed quickly by ants (myrmecochory), so timely harvest is essential.
Seed collection steps:
Harvest fruits just before they split or when they feel soft and fully colored.
Macerate fruit in water to separate seeds from pulp; viable seeds will sink.
Rinse seeds and either sow immediately or store in moist medium—do not allow them to dry out.
Germination tip:
Requires double dormancy:
W/C (Warm → Cold):
Warm-moist stratification (~70°F) for 60–90 days,
Followed by cold-moist (~40°F) for 90–120 days.
Germination often occurs in the second spring after sowing, and seedling growth is slow and gradual.