Flower profile

Pacific trillium

Trillium ovatum

Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum) is a flowering plant in the Melanthiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Pacific trillium is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

7states where USDA records it

5Bloomipedia state lists include it

42,885U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Trillium ovatum, commonly known as the Pacific trillium, western wakerobin, western white trillium, or western trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is the most widespread and abundant trillium in western North America. Its type specimen was gathered by Meriwether Lewis during the return trip of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1806.
From Wikipedia's article Trillium ovatum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 7 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to California, Washington, Oregon and Montana. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. ^iNaturalist
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 17,008 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #34 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 12,014 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #3 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 11,955 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #1 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (13,061 records)

Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
California	Native	February–April	17,008
Washington	Native	March–May	12,014
Oregon	Native	March–May	11,955
Idaho	–	April–June	996
Montana	Native	April–June	860

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe has no Idaho rank for it.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Pacific trillium in 7 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Butte, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 93 counties across 7 states; the most are in Oregon (26), Washington (26), California (16).

Other Trillium on Bloomipedia (12): Large white trillium, Red trillium, Painted trillium, Prairie trillium, Toadshade, Little sweet betsy, Bashful wakerobin, Nodding trillium, Giant white wakerobin, Yellow wakerobin.

More from the Melanthiaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Green false hellebore, Corn lily, Fremont's death camas, Common beargrass, Mountain deathcamas, Meadow deathcamas.

More California flowers

Fremont's death camas

Toxicoscordion fremontii

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–April

California poppy

Eschscholzia californica

★ CA state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

California buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: April–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TROV2.
iNaturalist, Trillium ovatum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trillium ovatum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trillium ovatum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Teresa Jegelewicz Mayfield-Meyer via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.