description Red Trillium Overview
Red trillium, Trillium erectum, is a perennial spring wildflower native to deciduous forests of eastern North America. It produces a single three-petaled flower, usually dark red or maroon, above a whorl of three broad leaves. The flower can emit a carrion-like odor that attracts flies and beetles as pollinators, accounting for names such as stinking Benjamin; it is also called wake-robin.
insights Ranking position
Red Trillium ranks #26 of 341 in the Wildflower ranking, behind Yellow Lady's Slipper, ahead of Yellow Coneflower.
help Red Trillium FAQ
Why does red trillium sometimes smell unpleasant?
The maroon flower of Trillium erectum can produce a carrion-like odor that attracts flies and beetles. Those insects can transfer pollen while investigating what smells like decaying organic matter.
Is red trillium always red?
No. Although dark red or maroon is typical, Trillium erectum also occurs in paler forms, including white-flowered plants, so color alone is not a perfect identification feature.
Where does red trillium grow?
Red trillium is native to eastern North America and commonly inhabits rich, moist deciduous forests. It appears in spring before the overhead tree canopy becomes fully dense.
How is red trillium different from wake-robin and stinking Benjamin?
They are common names for the same species, Trillium erectum, rather than different plants. The name stinking Benjamin refers to the flower's distinctive odor, while wake-robin associates its spring emergence with the return of robins.
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