False Hellebore Family – Melanthiaceae
Actual flower size: 3 inches across
Western Trillium is also called Wake Robin.
Plant Description: Western Trillium is a 4 to 18 inches tall perennial. The stem is bare to about three-quarters up, where there is a whorl of leaves and 1 or 2 inches above the leaves is a single, white, up to 4 inch wide, very showy flower. The leaves are in whorls of 3, broad, triangular-oval, up to 6 inches across and 8 inches long, parallel-veined with extra net veins and a drip tip.
Flower Description: The 3 petals are pure white, 1 to 2 inches long, and tongue-like. The 3 sepals alternate with the petals and are narrow, green, leaf-like, nearly as long as the petals. There are 6 long, yellow, fuzzy stamens and a 3-lobed stigma. The petals turn pink to purple with age.
Ecology: Western Trillium grows in moist to wet woods, stream banks, open shaded areas, at low to subalpine elevations.
Note: Western Trillium has been moved from the Lily Family to the False Hellebore Family. See “APG Changes” page
Western Trillium Photo Gallery
Actual flower size: 3 inches across