Photo by Carla Wells
The Nodding White Trillium (Trillium flexipes) is a perennial wildflower native to Wisconsin’s moist, deciduous woodlands. It first blooms in May. It grows to heights of six to 24 inches and produces a single, elegant white flower—one to 1-1/2 inches wide—that droops below a whorl of three lush green leaves. Each leaf is wavy-edged, stalkless, and pointed at the tip. Preferring a nutrient-rich, shaded environment, this species plays an important role in the biodiversity of Wisconsin’s forests.
Nodding trilliums are primarily pollinated by bumblebees. It is also a host plant for black-patched clepsis and American angle shades moths. Additionally, trillium seeds are dispersed by ants in a fascinating process known as myrmecochory, integrating the plant into the forest floor’s nutrient cycle. In garden settings, trilliums are highly valued for their ability to naturalize and their beautiful appearance. They are a preferred food of deer.
(LS)