Louisiana Trillium Trillium ludovicianum

Louisiana wakerobin is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It is native to Louisiana, Mississippi and eastern Texas, where they are found growing in low flatwoods, floodplains along streams, steep ravine slopes that lead to a floodplain and mixed pine-beech woods. The epithet is the Latinized name for Louisiana.

Louisiana wakerobins are attractively planted in groups under trees in humus-rich moist well-drained soils in part to full shade. They suffer in too much sun. 

The bronzy green bracts (“leaves”) are held well above the ground and attractively mottled in a lighter green sometimes with an even lighter line dividing the leaf in two. The dark purplish brown petals are held upright in the center of the whorl of bracts. They smell a little like carrion and attract beetles, which are the pollinators. The fleshy fruit is a purplish, six-angled, ovoid capsule.

Plant in drifts at the edge of the woods or near a stream where they will slowly spread by underground rhizomes.

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.

More information on Trillium.