Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

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 which frequently shade this trillium include grand fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock; bigleaf maple, red alder and Sitka spruce join in near the coast. Near California shores, it is common under coast redwood. Associated understory plants include swordfern, vanilla leaf, violets, redwood sorrel and salal. 

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Sun

Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 1 mo. stratification.

Sunset Zones

14, 15, 16, 17

Site type

Moist slopes and canyon banks

Plant communities

Mixed Evergreen Forest, Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

American Angle Shades

Euplexia benesimilis