Southern Appalachian Wildflowers

Trilliums

Three leaves, three sepals and three flower petals mark the trilliums. There are two main groups of trilliums, those with flowers on a stem (pedical) either rising above the flowers or drooping below (pedicellate) and those with no stems, the sepals and petals growing upward out of the leaf axil (sessile).
Trillium keys are supplied at the bottom of this page but remember there are variances in local populations and individuals, and there are inconsistencies in the keys.

(corrections made 04.30.04 for mis-identification,  T. simile and  T. discolor)

Be alert as you walk in the woods, as some of these shy trilliums are have flowers that hang below the leaves, nearly invisible from the top.

The Painted Trillium--Trillium undulatum--is a higher altitude species.

Large Flowered Trillium--Trillium grandiflora	T. grandiflora --a narrow leaved form showing the pink of aging
Toadshade--T. cuneatum ( Sweet Little Betsy )	Toadshade--T. cuneatum a bronze form
Pale Yellow Trillium--T. discolor	Catesby's Trillium--T. catesbaei
Southern Nodding Trillium--T. rugelii	Sweet White Trillium--T. simile

Wake Robin or Red Trillium--T. erectum  (may be white or mixed)

Vasey's Trillium--T. vaseyi	Persistent Trillium--T. persistens an endangered species

Begin looking for Trilliums in early April when the Toadshades will be up and continue through mid May. Some good walks for trilliums are the Green River Gorge in Henderson County, the Pacolet River Gorge in Polk County, the Looking Glass Rock Trail in Pisgah Forest and along the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River in Shining Rock Wilderness. Harvard University Flora OnLine Trillium key Freeman Southeast Trillium key (text file) Flora of VA, NC, SC key (text file) Flora of VA, NC, SC key (Rich Text file)