Also known as Sessile Trillium, this plant forms rhizomatous colonies in moist limestone-rich woods and floodplains throughout eastern North America. Each plant has a single stem that emerges with trio of pixelated mottled leaves topped by a stemless cup-shaped maroon flower in spring.
Unlike some other trilliums, this flower smells somewhat rotten, attracting the flies and beetles that pollinate this species. The leaves of this species will persist until the mid-summer heat, when the plants will hide from the heat under the cool soil until next spring. This is especially true during dry summers.
Conditions: Part shade to full shade; moist, well-drained, humus rich soils
Size: <1' tall, <1' wide
Zone: 4 – 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract beetles and flies for pollination; ants spread seed
Photos: David Korbonits, Laura Cruz