Is this a stable variegation or virus?

6 years ago

Hello - Every year for the last ten years or so I have this one growth on a Trillium grandiflorum that has these markings. Later in the season the yellow splash turns more creamy white. This hasn't shown up on any other trillium plants here, it appears healthy but has never multiplied.

The plant in the picture is a mutation, T. grandiflorum flore pleno, could this be a sport of a sport? Stable variegation or virused? Either way I think it is cool and don't want to destroy it! I don't grow any hosta, no, I take that back, I have one Paul's Glory growing in the way back - not many true lilies or anything that is known to carry a heavy virus load.

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Jeb

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Comments (4)

woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I was curious so did a Google search. I found this somewhat old, highly technical article that says variegation of various types can be found in trilliums in the Great Lakes and mountainous regions south of there. I”m not sure where you are but it doesn’t sound like anything you need to worry about.... https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00087114.1982.10796919
Jeb thanked woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i dont understand why you mention hosta????

virus are usually highly plant specific ...

ken
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Jeb
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Ken, the reason I mentioned hosta was because I do some work for a woman that has a large hosta collection and some of the plants look like they might have 'Virus X' and it had me worried that it followed me home somehow. Maybe the reason I mentioned hosta is because I had been working outside this morning in the heat and was slightly delirious (and soaked in sweat) when this post was written. :)

Thanks Woodyoak for the information, I thought that T. grandiflorum could be infected with Mycoplasma that caused some strange striping of the flowers and foliage, I had never heard or have seen a variegated grandiflorum plant that is healthy before. That is why I asked, thanks again.

P.S. I am in the Great Lakes Region.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
Maybe the reason I mentioned hosta is because I had been working outside this morning in the heat and was slightly delirious (and soaked in sweat) when this post was written. :)

==>>> lol ... never have a drink when you are in this condition.. unless you are already showered and near your bed ... lol ...

as far as i know.. the hosta viruses.. are specific to that plant.. but i dont claim any expertise in that regard ..

as i said.. most.. afaik ... are plant specific ...

btw: i was once told.. when on a garden tour.. in hundred degree temps ...and in much the same state of mind as you were ... that much variegation in plants is virus related ... and it floored me ... and after they helped me back up ... they explained that not all viruses are what one might call.. bad viruses .. i never followed up on that ... [it was probably preWWW ... ] ...so im just repeating what i said ... might be interesting as a new post ...

ken
Jeb thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5