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Key characteristics

Family: Melanthiaceae
Height: 12 to 18 inches
Width: 12 to 18 inches
Flower color: Deep maroon to burgundy three petaled flowers with yellow stamens
Foliage color: Medium to dark green broad ovate leaves arranged in a whorl of three
Bloom time: Mid spring often April to May
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Evenly moist soil
Maintenance: Low; allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering; divide only when plants become crowded
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 7
Wildlife: Carrion flies and beetles that act as pollinators and ants that disperse the seeds

Perennials

Trillium erectum

Red Trillium

Trillium erectum produces a neat whorl of three broad, pointed leaves that spread horizontally near the top of a single upright stem. At the center, a solitary flower rises above the leaves, its three maroon to deep reddish-purple petals surrounding a cluster of yellow stamens. Blooming in mid to late spring, the flower has a fleshy texture and upright form that gives the plant a distinctive presence in shaded woodland settings.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Evenly moist soil

Bloom time

Mid spring often April to May

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff · Foamflowers · Epimediums · Hostas

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.