Good things come in threes and this beauty has 3 leaves, 3 bracts, and 3 pedals. Trilliums are endlessly fascinating. They do not produce nectar; pollinators come for the pollen, rather than the sweet treat most flowers produce. Western Trillium plants live a long time, up to 50 years! Trillium seeds are attached to a fatty substance called an elaiosome. Ants love this substance, and will carry them off for food. This is a clever way for the plant to distribute seeds for future generations of trilliums.
- Rarity: Common
- Flowering Time: Early Spring
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Height: 4-18 inches
- Habitat: West-Side Forest, Coastal, East-Side Forest
- Native: Yes
Sources: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon Flora Project, Trillium Trivia, an article by a Tryon Naturalist
