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. More information on Trillium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Berry; Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The 6-parted berry-like capsule is pale to purplish-green and is available from July to August. Seeds are dispersed by ants.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Light green to reddish purple, round, smooth and stout.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
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).