Pacific trillium

Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum) is in the Herb-Paris, False Hellebores, Trilliums and allies family (Melanthiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,649 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Pacific trillium: observations by month (U.S.)

About Pacific trillium

Trillium ovatum, the Pacific trillium, western trillium, western wakerobin, or western white trillium, is a member of the Trilliaceae family, or sometimes included within the Liliaceae or Melanthiaceae. It occurs in parts of the western United States and western Canada, usually in rich forest. In the northern part of its range, which includes southern British Columbia, extreme southwestern Alberta, Washington, Oregon and east to Montana, Wyoming and northern Colorado, it often grows under Douglas-fir. Other trees...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Pacific trillium by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Herb-Paris, False Hellebores, Trilliums and allies)

Large White TrilliumTrillium grandiflorum

Red TrilliumTrillium erectum

Painted TrilliumTrillium undulatum

Prairie TrilliumTrillium recurvatum

ToadshadeTrillium sessile

Giant WakerobinTrillium chloropetalum

Little Sweet BetsyTrillium cuneatum

Fremont's Death CamasToxicoscordion fremontii

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ