Red Trillium - Trillium erectum L.
Above: Red Trillium in Nakoma garden in Madison, Wisconsin on May 14, 2022.
Red Trillium - Trillium erectum L. (Spring Ephemeral)
Native to North America, Red Trillium (Trillium erectum L.) is rare in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, this trillium is usually found in gardens but, according to the Wisconsin State Herbarium, UW-Madison, it may also be a garden escapee.
It is also suggested that this trillium is sometimes intentionally planted in woods.
A Wisconsin native trillium that looks distinctively different but is also referred to as Red Trillium is (Trillium recurvatum).
Blooms May - June.
Other names include: Red Wakerobin, Stinking Benjamin, Bethroot, Wet Dog Trillium, Wet Dog Wakerobin, Purple Trillium, Purple Wakerobin, Wake robin, Stinking Willie, Birthwort.
Trillium: Latin tres for three and lilium for lily.
There is also a White Trillium erectum. It is called Trillium erectum var. alba and has common names such as: White Erect Trillium and White Wakerobin. Native to the mountains of North Carolina, this Trillium is also introduced to Wisconsin and usually found in gardens.
For more information on Red Trillium, visit Wikipedia.
Or, visit the: United States Forest Service website page on Trillium erectum.
Red Trillium
Trillium erectum
Above: Red Trillium in Nakoma Garden (5/17/22)
Above: White Trillium erectum/White Wake Robin (Trillium erectum var. alba) in Nakoma garden on May 21, 2022.
Above: 1902 Trillium Wake Robin botanical illustration.
Above: 1918 Trillium cernuum botanical illustration.
Above: 1918 Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist.
Above: 1807 Trillium erectum, Alba illustration.
