Whip-poor-will Flower

Common Name:

Whip-poor-will Flower

Botanical Name:

Trillium cuneatum

Family:

Liliaceae

Zone:

5-9

Height:

6-12"

Spread:

12-16"

Bloom Time:

April, March, May

Bloom Description:

Trail/Garden Location:

Tulip Tree Shelter, Tulip Tree Trail

Garden Uses:

Whip-poor-will Flower, or Sweet Betsy, is an easy Southeastern United States Trillium that prefers rich woodland soil in full to part-shade. Make sure to mix other non-aggressive woodland wildflowers to counteract this spring ephemeral when it goes summer dormant.

Wildlife Benefits:

Provides shelter for small mammals and amphibians. Ants eat a fleshy substance, known as an elaiosome, off the seeds and help distribute the seeds when taken back to the colony.

Leaf Type:

The leaves are mottled with colors of silver, green, and gray. The leaves are fairly large and reach lengths of 7".