Bloomipedia
Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum)
Photo: Teresa Jegelewicz Mayfield-Meyer via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Pacific trillium

Trillium ovatum

Native in the lower 48

Pacific 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 February–June.

7states
5of our state lists
42,885U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Trillium ovatum, commonly known as the Pacific trillium, western wakerobin, western white trillium, or western trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is the most widespread and abundant trillium in western North America. Its type specimen was gathered by Meriwether Lewis during the return trip of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1806.

  • 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 7 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to California, Washington, Oregon and Montana. NatureServe
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 17,008 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #34 among the 110 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 12,014 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #3 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 11,955 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #1 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

Pacific trillium gift ideas

Handmade pacific 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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    Pacific trillium art print

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    Pacific trillium greeting card

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    Pacific trillium mug

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    Pacific trillium earrings

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    Pacific trillium embroidery pattern

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    Pacific trillium sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (13,061 records)
Bloom time in each of our 5 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
CaliforniaNativeFebruary–April17,008
WashingtonNativeMarch–June12,014
OregonNativeMarch–May11,955
Idaho–April–June996
MontanaNativeApril–June860

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
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe has no Idaho rank for it.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WY (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?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 Pacific trillium in 7 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Butte, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

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Sources