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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Trillium erectum

Wake Robin, Red Trillium, Purple Trillium, Stinking Benjamin, Stinking Willie, Birthwort

Scientific Name:

Trillium erectum

Genus:

Trillium

Species Epithet:

erectum

Common Name:

Wake Robin, Red Trillium, Purple Trillium, Stinking Benjamin, Stinking Willie, Birthwort

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Trilliaceae (Trillium Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

0-1 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Red

Light:

Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

April, May, June

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont

Habitat Description:

2 varieties in NC:
Trillium erectum var. erectum - Wooded slopes, usually at middle to high elevations. Common in NC Mountains, rare in Piedmont. Global Rank: G5T5

Trillium erectum var. album - Wooded slopes, usually at low elevations. Distribution poorly understood, but especially common in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC and TN. Global Rank G5TNR (not yet ranked).

Leaf Arrangement:

Whorled

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Suitable for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

State Status:

Exploited (*Key)

Notes:

Read this excellent paper on Trilliums prepared by one of our Shinn Grant winners:

A STUDY OF THE SYSTEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE TRILLIUM ERECTUM COMPLEX
by Christina Pampkin Stoehrel

NC Natural Heritage Program listed as Exploited, S5 G5

T. erectum var. erectum

In Bud

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T. erectum var. erectum

Plants

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T. erectum var. erectum

Plants

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T. erectum var. erectum

Plant

image

T. erectum var. erectum

Bloom Close Up

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T. erectum var. erectum

Bloom Close Up

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T. erectum var. erectum

Bloom Close Up

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T. erectum var. erectum

Unusual Color Bloom

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T. erectum var. erectum

Unusual Color Bloom

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T. erectum var. erectum

Unusual Color Blooms

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T. erectum var. erectum

Seed Capsule

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Mark Rose

T. erectum var. erectum

Entire Plant
This was pushed out of the ground by a road grader.

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T. erectum var. album

Plant

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T. erectum var. album

Bloom

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T. erectum var. album

Bloom Close Up

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Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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