Flower profile
Painted trillium
Trillium undulatum
Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum) is a flowering plant in the Melanthiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.
Painted 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 April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia
Quick look
Trillium undulatum, commonly called painted trillium, painted lady, or trille ondulé in French, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is also known as smiling wake robin or striped wake-robin. The specific epithet undulatum means "wavy", which refers to the wavy edges of the flower petals.
- 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 19 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, Maine and West Virginia. NatureServe
- In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 4,317 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #7 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,226 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #10 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,333 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #71 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | Native | May–June | 4,317 |
| Vermont | Native | May–June | 3,226 |
| North Carolina | Native | April–May | 2,333 |
| Maine | Native | May–June | 2,180 |
| West Virginia | Native | May | 699 |
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
- State rare plant lists
- Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 5 states.
See each state
- New Hampshire
- Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Maine
- Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
- West Virginia
- No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in West Virginia.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KY (S2), MI (S1), NJ (S2), OH (S1), RI (S2), SC (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?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: fruits, roots. They also note: “Young, unfolding leaves. Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Wash leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Cook in boiling, salted water for ten minutes and serve like greens. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 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 painted trillium in 19 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.
Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 231 counties across 18 states; the most are in New York (50), Pennsylvania (45), Virginia (24).
Other Trillium on Bloomipedia (12): Pacific trillium, Large white trillium, Red 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 New Hampshire flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRUN.
- iNaturalist, Trillium undulatum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Trillium undulatum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- State rare and invasive plant lists (9):
Show all 9 state lists
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
- New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
- Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
- West Virginia: West Virginia noxious weeds (W. Va. Code R. § 61-14A-5) (the rule abbreviates some names (e.g. “P. cuspidatum”); we expand them to match).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Trillium undulatum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Nick Kleinschmidt via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.