Toad Trillium (Trillium sessile)

Seed Collection Time:

Mid to late summer — typically July through early August, depending on location.

Signs seeds are ready:

After flowering, the plant develops a green, fleshy, berry-like fruit at the base of the flower.
As it matures, the fruit softens slightly and may develop a reddish or purplish tint.
When ripe, the fruit splits open or crushes easily, revealing pale, shiny seeds with elaiosomes (ant-attracting food bodies).

Seeds are quickly dispersed by ants (myrmecochory), so regular checking is essential.

Seed collection steps:

Monitor fruit closely and harvest when slightly soft and just before it splits.
Remove seeds from pulp by gently crushing and rinsing the fruit in water.
Let seeds dry briefly, but do not allow them to fully dry out (they are recalcitrant).
Plant immediately or store in moist medium (not dry storage).

Germination tip:

Double dormancy:
Requires a year-long sequence — warm-moist stratification (~70°F for 3–4 months) followed by cold-moist stratification (~40°F for 3–4 months).