Triteleia

( try - TELL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials, commonly known as Triplet Lilies or Ithuriel's Spear, grow from corms and need full sun and no formal irrigation, making them a fantastic choice for water-wise gardeners. They bloom in spring and early summer, and flower color varies depending on the species. Most species are native to western North America, and they are most commonly found in California. Use Triteleia in mixed beds and borders or as container plants in native, pollinator, informal, rock, or drought-tolerant gardens.

Triteleia Species and Varietals

Tritelia is a genus in the plant family Asparagaceae, and includes 16 species. Triteleia grows best in zones 3-9 and 14-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Triteleia crocea (Yellow Triteleia, Yellow Tripletlily)
These plants are native to northern California and southern Oregon, and produce two or three leaves up to 16 inches long. Flowers are typically bright yellow (though some are blue) with dark stripes on their exteriors and bloom from May through June. Leaves are green and glossy.

Triteleia grandiflora (Brodiaea grandiflora) (Largeflower Triteleia, Largeflower Tripletlily, Wild Hyacinth)
This species produces a flower stalk 2 feet tall that is topped with multiple blue to white trumpet-shaped flowers. Leaves are green and almost grass-like in appearance. Blooms appear spring and summertime.

Triteleia hyacinthina (Brodiaea hyacinthina, Brodiaea lactea) (White Brodiaea, White Tripletlily, Hyacinth Brodiaea, Fool's Onion, Wild Hyacinth)
This species is best in zones 2-9 and 14-24 and forms clusters of white, purple-tinged papery blooms that have green veining. The flower stalk can reach 9-20 inches tall. These plants are native to western North America, from British Colombia to Idaho and down through central California. Bulbs are edible.

Triteleia ixioides (Brodiaea ixioides, Brodiaea lutea) (Pretty Face, Golden Brodiaea, Golden Star)
This species produces a 20-inch tall flower stalk topped with golden yellow flowers that have purple-black veining. These plants are native to central and northern California as well as southwestern Oregon, where they grow in coastal and inland forests and other habitats.

Triteleia laxa (Brodiaea laxa) (Grass Nut, Ithuriel's Spear, Common Triteleia)
This species is best in zones 2-9 and 14-24, and produces a flower stalk that reaches 2.5 feet tall, and holds purple-blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Variety 'Queen Fabiola' has deep violet flowers. Corms are used similar to potatoes. This species is native to California and southwestern Oregon.

Triteleia x tubergenii (Brodiaea tubergenii)
This plant is a fertile hybrid between two other species (Triteleia laxa and Triteleia peduncularis), and produces a flower stalk that grows to 2.5 feet tall and has light blue flowers. Blooms are present in spring and early summertime.

Caring for Triteleia

Triteleia can be grown from seed or purchased as starts or bulbs from a reputable nursery. They do best in a space that gets full sun (between 6 and 8 hours each day), with some afternoon shade in the warmest climates. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.2 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Triteleia are known for their impressive drought tolerance, and are able to get by for much of the year on rainwater alone with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. At the end of the growing season, the plant will die back to the ground. Wait until foliage has completely browned before cleaning up plants; if leaves are still present, they are still photosynthesizing and sending energy back into the storage root for use in producing next year's blooms. Before cooler temperatures come around, these bulbs can be mulched over for extra insulation, or simply pulled from the ground, stored over winter, and replanted in the spring.

Propagation

Triteleia, or Triplet Lily, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. Seed-sown Triteleia takes between 3 and 5 years to reach maturity and begin bloom cycles. To propagate your Triplet Lilies, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Triteleia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Triteleia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Triteleia, or Triplet Lily plants, though typically considered resilient, can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape from time to time: