Sweet after death
Achlys triphylla
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
shade
Water
medium
Size
8"–16" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
small bees, flies
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA rhizomatous forest-floor groundcover with distinctive three-part fan-shaped leaves that smell of vanilla when dried, spreading slowly into a neat colony. Slender white flower spikes rise above the foliage in spring.
Wildlife value
The small spring flowers provide nectar for shade-tolerant bees and flies early in the season.
Common questions
- How much sun does Sweet after death need?
- Sweet after death grows best in shade conditions.
- When does Sweet after death bloom?
- Sweet after death blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Sweet after death native?
- Sweet after death (Achlys triphylla) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Sweet after death attract?
- Sweet after death draws small bees and flies.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
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