Native plants for a Cape Cod garden

This is the first year I have trillium blooming in the woodland garden. I bought some plants from the New England Wild Flower Society and integrated them among the ferns and wild ginger. Right now, bent trillium (Trillium flexipes) is showing off its white flowers. Woodland gardens don’t come into their own without trillium present, I believe. Unfortunately, that attitude, which is shared by many gardening enthusiasts, has decimated wild trillium populations. Tens of millions have been dug from the wild. Nowadays, there is no reason to follow that practice. Please buy from reputable dealers who specify that their plants are propagated from cultivated stock (NEWFS, Vermont Wildflower Farm, etc.). You can acquire the actual plant, or have rootstock shipped to you: Plant the root pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in deep, humus-rich soil that does not dry out, and apply a mulch of rotted leaves annually. If all goes well (and if your garden is moist and shaded it should) trillium will establish itself and bring more early color and leaf aesthetic to your garden.

Trillium is both edible and medicinal, it has a long history of use by Native Americans. The young edible unfolding leaves are an excellent addition to any salad, tasting somewhat like sunflower seeds. The leaves can also be cooked as a pot herb: For this, gather young leaves while they are still unfolding, and boil or fry them. Season to taste. The root is used in alternative medicine and has many applications.

Trillium flexipes (bent trillium) is a rather tall (12-18 inch) trillium that can be found in woodlands in zones 3 to 9. Ideal soil conditions range from acidic to neutral. It can be found on the eastern half of the continent from Ontario to Georgia, but is not present in New England and the Canadian maritimes. Trillium flexipes is endangered in several U.S. states as well as the province of Ontario.

Trillium flexipes