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Trillium erectum

red trillium

Melanthiaceae Eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Trillium erectum is a herbaceous spring-flowering perennial growing 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) tall from a thick rhizome. A single erect stem bears a whorl of three broadly diamond-shaped leaves, each 3-7 inches (8-18 cm) long, dark green and net-veined, set just below the flower. One flower rises on a stalk 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) above the leaves, with three pointed petals 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long, usually deep maroon-red, occasionally white, yellow, or green. The flower emits a faint odor resembling raw meat that draws flies and beetles as pollinators. Bloom occurs from April to May, before the deciduous forest canopy closes. A reddish, six-angled berry-like capsule 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) wide ripens by late summer, after which the foliage yellows and dies back to the ground. Plants spread slowly by short rhizomes and by seed dispersed by ants. Seedlings take 4-7 years to reach flowering size. All parts contain calcium oxalate raphides that irritate mouth and digestive tissues if eaten. Growth is restricted to consistently moist, shaded sites; foliage scorches and goes dormant early where soils dry out in summer.

Native Range

Native to eastern North America from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and Tennessee, west to Michigan. Grows in rich, moist deciduous and mixed woodlands, on slopes and in ravines, in humus-rich soils at low to mid elevations.

Suggested Uses

Grown in woodland and shade gardens, native plant collections, and naturalized plantings under deciduous trees, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. Combines with other spring ephemerals such as Dicentra cucullaria and woodland ferns. Unsuited to dry, sunny, or heavily disturbed sites.

How to Identify

Identified by the whorl of three net-veined leaves topped by a single three-petaled flower held above the foliage on a distinct stalk. Petals are typically deep maroon-red, 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long, with a dark ovary and recurved sepals between them. Distinguished from Trillium grandiflorum by its erect or outward-facing flower, its stalked rather than stalkless bloom, and the carrion odor.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 1'4"

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowers appear from April to May, opening as the surrounding forest canopy leafs out. Each plant produces one flower that lasts about 1-2 weeks. Bloom is earlier in southern parts of the range and at lower elevations, and delayed into early June farther north and on cool mountain slopes.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

deep maroon-red, occasionally white, yellow, or green

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-7 years from seed to flowering

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in deep to partial shade in soil kept consistently moist with high organic content. Water during dry spells in the first seasons after planting, as the rhizome roots shallowly and dries quickly. A 2-3 inch (5-8 cm) layer of leaf mulch maintains soil moisture and replicates woodland conditions. Foliage may yellow and go dormant by midsummer if soils dry out, which does not harm established rhizomes. Plants re-establish slowly after transplanting and may skip flowering for a season once moved. Slugs feed on emerging shoots in wet springs.

Pruning

No pruning is required. Spent foliage can be left to die back naturally, which returns resources to the rhizome for the following year. Removing green leaves prematurely reduces flowering the next season.