WORTH THE WAIT

After planting from seed, the patient gardener must tend Trillium chloropetalum for five to seven years. In its first year, it produces a root; in its second, a shoot. When it finally reaches maturity, a sharp-petalled flower emerges from a billowy collar of three huge green leaves. The bloom can vary from white to deep red, with a sweet, rose-like perfume. Although it takes time to develop, the plant is also extremely long-lived, providing excellent ground cover and a striking focal point. A rhizomatous plant, once established, it can be lifted and divided to provide interest in different corners of the garden.