Wildflowers of the United States

Painted Trillium, Painted Wakerobin, Painted Lady - Trillium undulatum

Genus Common Name: Trillium

Native Status: Native

Monocot Perennial Herb

Trillium undulatum - Painted Trillium, Painted Wakerobin, Painted Lady. Trillium was formerly classified in Liliaceae, but most authorities have placed it in Melanthiaceae, because unlike other Liliaceae, the petals and sepals of Trillium are distinctly different. A number of respected authorities now place Trillium in Trilliaceae. I'm hanging on to Liliaceae until the dust settles.

Trillium undulatum is one of the pedicellate Trilliums, frequently referred to as Wakerobins; this species is also known as Painted Wakerobin. It's mostly a species of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, with some populations as far west as small parts of Ohio and Michigan. It's found in the Appalachian mountains in southern Pennsylvania thru the Virginias and south as far as northern Georgia and northern South Carolina. It is classified as Threatened, Endangered, or Vulnerable in Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. It grows in acidic forests, usually in deeply shaded areas except in the higher elevations.

It is reported that the berries and roots have low levels of toxicity if eaten. It blooms in late spring and early summer.

Found in:
CT, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV, GS

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Distribution of Trillium undulatum in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: GSMNP, Swain County, NC Date: 2015-May-05	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The lovely flower of Trillium undulatum rises above 3 blue-green, prominently-veined bracts - which are considered leaves by most of us. The leaves and sepals usually have a maroon hue under the green; occasionally the sepals are wine red.

Site: GSMNP, Swain County, NC Date: 2015-May-05	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The edges of the petals of Trillium undulatum provide the species epithet - they are undulate (wavy.) Without the characteristic coloration - an inverted V of red radiating along the veins - the flower of this plant could easily be mistaken for that of Trillium grandiflorum - Large-flowered Trillium. However, the anthers of T. undulatum are white or pink, whereas they are yellow in T. grandiflorum. The ovary is usually relatively larger than that of T. grandiflorum. It is 3-angled, and usually pink-tinged white. It is reported that there is a form of Painted Trillium without that distinguishing red mark; in addition to other floral characteristics described above, the bract/leaf color can be used to distinguish this species. There is also a form of T. undulatum with green rather than white petals.
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Site: GSMNP, Swain County, NC Date: 2015-May-05	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
This beautiful woodland Trillium rises on a stem that is 8 to 16 inches tall. The leaves (bracts) are on petioles and the flower is on an arching pedicel. It grows usually in deep woods, but at higher elevations, as here at more than 5,000 feet, it grows in more open woods.
Click on the photo for a larger image

References used for identification and information:

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Trillium undulatum initially published on USWildflowers.com 2015-07-01; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302