Flower profile

Nodding trillium

Trillium cernuum

Native to Minnesota

Nodding trillium is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Minnesota it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

22states

1,847MN sightings*

4,796U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Minnesota

Quick look

Trillium cernuum is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet cernuum means "drooping, curving forwards, facing downwards", a distinctive habit of its flower. It is commonly called nodding trillium or nodding wakerobin since the flower is invariably found nodding beneath the leaves.
From Wikipedia's article Trillium cernuum, 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 22 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Minnesota. ^NatureServe
In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,847 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #66 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. ^iNaturalist

Nodding trillium gift ideas

Handmade nodding trillium gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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Nodding trillium art print
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Nodding trillium earrings
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Nodding trillium embroidery pattern
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When does it bloom?

In Minnesota, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Minnesota (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (499 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: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S2), IL (S1), IN (S1), OH (SX), PA (S2), SD (S2), VA (S2), WV (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 nodding trillium in 22 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Fillmore, Grant, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Murray, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Washington.

More Minnesota flowers

Large white trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

★ OH state wildflowerNative

🌼 Blooms in MN: May–June

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in MN: June–August

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in MN: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRCE.
iNaturalist, Trillium cernuum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trillium cernuum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Minnesota: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300).
Minnesota: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trillium cernuum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Rose Zappa via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.