Flower profile

Yellow wakerobin

Trillium luteum

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

Native to Tennessee

Yellow wakerobin is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Tennessee it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

9states where USDA records it

1,891TN sightings*

3,017U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Tennessee

Quick look

Trillium luteum, the yellow trillium or yellow wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is a member of the Trillium cuneatum complex, a closely related group of sessile-flowered trilliums. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, especially in and around the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
From Wikipedia's article Trillium luteum, 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 9 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Tennessee. ^NatureServe
In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,891 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #56 among the 182 flowers on our Tennessee list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Tennessee, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Tennessee (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,154 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Tennessee: Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Tennessee. ^{TN rule 0400-06-02-.04}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NC (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.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S2 in Tennessee. ^NatureServe

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 yellow wakerobin in 9 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia; District of Columbia.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 55 counties across 8 states; the most are in Tennessee (31), Georgia (7), Kentucky (7).

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

Little sweet betsy

Trillium cuneatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in TN: March–April

Large white trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

★ OH state wildflowerNative

🌼 Blooms in TN: March–April

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in TN: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRLU3.
iNaturalist, Trillium luteum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trillium luteum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trillium luteum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Will Kuhn via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.