Trillium ovatum
Western trillium, White Or Western Trillium
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Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trillium ovatum (Western trillium) is a native California herb in the Melanthiaceae family, recognized by stalked flowers.
Western trillium is a California native perennial found in coastal and northern California regions in redwood and mixed conifer forests at elevations of 10 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from January to June, this plant produces white flowers 2 to 6 centimeters long that age to pink or deep purple, with broad elliptic petals that overlap at the base. Growing with erect stems 15 to 70 centimeters tall, it forms distinctive whorls of three large diamond-shaped leaves that are generally green and sessile. Its broad leaves measure 4 to 20 centimeters long and 5 to 20 centimeters wide, with an acute to acuminate tip. The fruit is a green, 6-angled ovoid structure with winged ridges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; key feature is stalked flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Redwood or mixed conifer forest
Elevation: 10-1700 m
California counties: Santa Cruz, Humboldt, San Mateo, Monterey, Marin, Mendocino, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Trinity, Tehama, Shasta, Yuba, San Francisco
Outside California: to western Canada
Bloom period
Trillium ovatum blooms Jan-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudotrillium: Trillium leaves attach directly to stem and feel thin; Pseudotrillium leaves have short stalks and feel thick and leathery.; vs Lysimachia: Trillium has three leaves in one whorl; Lysimachia has multiple leaves in pairs or whorls along the stem.; vs Asarum: Trillium has three leaves above ground with a flower above; Asarum has two leaves at ground level with flower at base.; vs Scoliopus: Trillium has three broad leaves in a whorl; Scoliopus has two basal leaves with mottling.; vs Viola: Trillium has three leaves in a single whorl; Viola has heart-shaped leaves arising separately from the base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trillium ovatum native to California?
Yes. Trillium ovatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trillium ovatum bloom?
Trillium ovatum blooms Jan-Jun.
Where in California does Trillium ovatum grow?
Trillium ovatum occurs in Santa Cruz, Humboldt, San Mateo, Monterey, Marin, Mendocino, Del Norte, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 10-1700 m.
What plant family does Trillium ovatum belong to?
Trillium ovatum is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Trillium.
What habitat does Trillium ovatum grow in?
Trillium ovatum grows in Redwood or mixed conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Trillium sp. — Wakerobin
- Trillium albidum — Giant white wakerobin
- Trillium angustipetalum — Narrow petaled wakerobin
- Trillium chloropetalum — Giant trillium
- Trillium oettingeri — Salmon mountains wakerobin
- Veratrum californicum var. californicum — California corn lily
- Veratrum fimbriatum — Fringed false-hellebore
- Veratrum insolitum — Siskiyou false-hellebore
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.