Toadshade Trillium is a distinctive spring ephemeral with dark reddish-maroon flowers that sit directly on mottled, unstemmed leaves. Found in rich deciduous woodlands from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic, it is one of the most common sessile (stemless) trilliums. The flowers emit a musty odor to attract flies and beetles as pollinators. The beautifully mottled leaves — marbled in shades of green, silver, and dark green — are attractive even out of bloom.
Best time to see a Toadshade Trillium
The best time to see a Toadshade Trillium is March–April, when about 84% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 16,844 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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