Toadshade Trillium is a native perennial found in the eastern United States and the Ozarks in rich, moist woods, in limestone woods, floodplains and along fence rows. In NC it is limited to very rich soils of natural levees and lower slopes along the Roanoke River and is rare in the Coastal Plain. The stemless flowers have 3 upright maroon petals with a foul smell that attracts flies and beetles for pollination. The flowers are sometimes brownish or yellow-green. The oval to nearly round bracts are mottled in shades of green and fade with age. Bloom time is April-May. The plant prefers humus-rich moist well-drained soils in part to full shade and will spread by rhizomes to form clumps over time. Use in a woodland setting for naturalizing. It is usually dormant by mid-summer, especially if the soil dries out. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Slugs and snails are occasional pests and leaf spot, rust and smut are occasional disease problems. It does not transplant well. More information on Trillium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Three stalkless oval to nearly round-shaped leaves that are actually bracts grow in a whorl. They are in mottled shades of green and up to 4 inches long.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Green; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Three narrow, erect petals are .7 to 1.5 in. long and maroon, purplish-brown to greenish-yellow and stalkless. The flowers have a strong foul odor. Blooms April-May
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry; Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
6-parted berry-like capsule with seeds that are dispersed by ants.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stout unbranched, round stem that is green to reddish-purple
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Northeastern United States
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , IL , IN , KS , KY , MD , MI , MO , NC , NY , OH , OK , PA , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Attracts beetles and flies for pollination. Small mammals will eat the fruits
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Nuts
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry; Capsule
Edibility
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.