How much sun does Prairie trillium need?

Prairie trillium grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Prairie trillium bloom?

Prairie trillium blooms in April and May.

Where is Prairie trillium native?

Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) is native to AL, AR, IA, IL and 11 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Prairie trillium attract?

Prairie trillium draws flies and beetles.

Prairie trillium

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Trillium recurvatum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) is a perennial forb native to AL, AR, IA, IL and 11 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw flies and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

8"–16" H × 8"–12" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, IA, IL and 11 more states

Pollinators

flies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Southeastern Plains Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains

A spring woodland ephemeral with mottled, purple-marked leaves and an upright, deep maroon-red flower held above the foliage. Goes dormant by midsummer, leaving a clean gap, and forms slow-spreading, tidy clumps over years.

Growing Prairie trillium

Grow Prairie trillium in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 8 to 16 inches tall and spread 8 to 12 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Its carrion-scented flower attracts flies and beetles as pollinators, an unusual strategy among spring wildflowers.

Common questions

How much sun does Prairie trillium need?: Prairie trillium grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Prairie trillium bloom?: Prairie trillium blooms in April and May.
Where is Prairie trillium native?: Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) is native to AL, AR, IA, IL and 11 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Prairie trillium attract?: Prairie trillium draws flies and beetles.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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