Prairie Trillium Trillium recurvatum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Trillium recurvatum f. luteum
- Phonetic Spelling
- TRIL-ee-um rek-er-VAY-tum
- Description
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Prairie trillium is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It is found in forest and woodland areas in the central and eastern U.S., including NC, where it is a NC Significantly Rare species. Several forms have been described, but these are no longer given taxonomic recognition. The epithet means “recurved” and likely describes the three sepals, which bend backward and point toward the soil.
Plant in humus-rich moist soils in part shade to dappled sunlight in a woodland setting. They can be naturalized under trees.
The maroon, three-petaled, sessile flowers appear above the mottled bracts in spring. The plant can take up to 10 years to bloom and usually go dormant by mid-summer. They slowly spread by rhizomes to form colonies. The red color of the flowers may attract carrion beetles and flies. This species is a larval host plant for the black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis). Small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source. Ants are attracted to the seeds, which they carry to their nests.
Prairie trillium is well suited to woodland, native plant or shady pollinator gardens.
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:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trillium
- Species:
- recurvatum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Trilliums have been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MI , MO , MS , NC , OH , OK , PA , TN , TX , WI
- Wildlife Value:
- Small mammals enjoy the fruits as a food source. Host plant for larvae of black-patched clepsis moth (Clepsis melaleucanus) and American angle shades moth (Euplexia benesimilis).
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The 6-parted berry-like capsule is pale to purplish-green and is available from July to August. Seeds are dispersed by ants.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Maroonish three-petaled flowers that bloom mid to late spring. The rhombic-elliptic shaped petals curve inward at the tips. In North Carolina, the flowers bloom from April to May. Up to 1.75 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Three mottled dark and light green bracts ("leaves") are 3-6" long 1 1/2" and 3 1/2" wide. Under surfaces are solid light green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green to reddish purple, round, smooth and stout.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
