Bloomipedia
Toadshade (Trillium sessile)
Photo: John Abrams via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Toadshade

Trillium sessile

Toadshade (Trillium sessile) is a flowering plant in the Melanthiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Toadshade is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

17states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
10,972U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio

Quick look

Trillium sessile is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet sessile means "attached without a distinct stalk", an apparent reference to its stalkless flower. It is commonly known as toadshade, toad trillium or red trillium. It is also called sessile trillium or sessile-flowered wake-robin, however it is not the only member of the genus with a sessile flower.

  • 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 17 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. NatureServe
  • In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In Kentucky, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,988 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #39 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,717 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #16 among the 178 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,403 research-grade sightings of it in Indiana, ranking #50 among the 173 flowers on our Indiana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,162 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OhioNativeApril–May3,988
KentuckyNativeMarch–April1,717
IndianaNativeApril–May1,403

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
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: S5, secure in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Indiana.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AL (S2), DC (S1), MI (S2), NC (S1), NY (S1), OK (S1). (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 peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: fruits, roots. They also note: “EDIBLE PARTS: Young, unfolding leaves HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: 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

For petsNot well documented

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 toadshade in 17 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wood, Wyandot.

Kentucky counties with USDA records: Adair, Anderson, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Crittenden, Edmonson, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Larue, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Mason, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Metcalfe, Montgomery, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Warren, Wayne, Woodford.

Indiana counties with USDA records: Adams, Allen, Blackford, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dearborn, Delaware, Elkhart, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Grant, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Kosciusko, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Ohio, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, St. Joseph, Switzerland, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Wells.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 400 counties across 16 states; the most are in Ohio (72), Kentucky (64), Indiana (59).

Other Trillium on Bloomipedia (12): Pacific trillium, Large white trillium, Red trillium, Painted trillium, Prairie trillium, 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.

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Sources