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Trillium cernuum is often confused with:
Trillium erectum Flowers
Trillium flexipes Flower and bracts
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Polygonatum biflorum Polygonatum biflorum
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'
Trillium luteum Flowers with mottled bracts

Nodding Trillium Trillium cernuum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
TRIL-ee-um SER-new-um
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Nodding Trillium is a perennial herb found from Canada south to northern Virginia and is the most northern of all the Trilliums. It has 1 or more unbranched stems that grow from underground rhizomes with a whorl of 3 bracts below the white to rarely pink 3 petaled flower. The flower is on a curving stem that often hangs below the bracts.

It is a long-lived woodland plant needing humus-rich moist soils and part to full shade. This trillium is not a good choice for the southeastern USA.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.  Slugs and snails are occasional pests and leaf spot, rust and smut are occasional disease problems. It does not transplant well.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#wildflower garden#HS302
 
Flower
Flower Arx Fortis CC BY-SA 3.0
pink flower
Pink Flower wirich CC BY-NC 4.0
Flower
Flower Fungus guy - wikimedia commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Flower
Flower Fungus guy - wikimedia commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Fruit
Fruit Jonathan Fréchette CC BY-NC 4.0
Native habitat
Native habitat darxus CC BY-NC 4.0
Trillium cernuum
Fruit close-up Fungus Guy CC BY-SA 4.0
Trillium cernuum
Leaf detail Superior National Forest CC BY 2.0
Trillium cernuum
Leaf detail Superior National Forest CC BY 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#wildflower garden#HS302
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Trillium
    Species:
    cernuum
    Family:
    Melanthiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Trilliums have been used in herbal medicine
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
    Edibility:
    EDIBLE PARTS: Young, unfolding leaves HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Cook in boiling, salted water for ten minutes and serve like greens. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Six sectioned reddish berry up to 1.25 inches with small brown seeds each with a protein-rich fleshy elaiosome attached to attract ants to disperse the seed.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flower stalk is bent downward with solitary whitish to pale pink flowers with pink-purple anthers. The petals overlap at the base to form an "s" and recurve upward. Flowers are up to 1.5 inches across and often hidden under the green bracts
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    A whorl of three 3 to 5 in. elliptical leaves that are actually bracts to the flower and recurve upward. Edges are smooth and wavy and the tip is pointed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stem is smooth, green to greenish-purple and 8 to 16 inches in height
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Unknown
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unknown
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Roots