Create Your Garden

Trillium recurvatum (Prairie Trillium)

Prairie Trillium, Bloody Butcher

Trillium recurvatum, Prairie Trillium, Bloody Butcher

Trillium recurvatum (Prairie Trillium) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial boasting solitary, purple to wine-red flowers, 1.75 in. tall (4 cm), in mid to late spring. The upright blossoms are adorned with 3 recurved petals, their tips converging over the stamens. They are borne atop an unbranched stem and presented above a whorl of 3 large, lanceolate to rounded, dark green leaves. The leaves are especially interesting because of their mottled appearance. Easy to grow, this charming Trillium is a lovely choice for wildflower gardens or woodland gardens, where it will carpet the ground, regaling those who view it. This is one of the earliest blooming trilliums.

  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall (30-45 cm) and 12 in. wide (30 cm). Will spread gradually if left undisturbed.
  • Performs best in part shade or full shade, in deep, humus-rich, acid to neutral, moist, well-drained soils. Mulch in fall with leaves.
  • Excellent when massed in shaded woodland gardens, naturalized areas or wildflower gardens.
  • Because trilliums go dormant by midsummer, pair them with other shade-loving perennials that will look good the rest of the gardening season and share their place until they reappear the following spring.
  • Generally disease free, this plant requires little maintenance. Watch out for slugs and snails.
  • The best time for planting is late summer or early fall as it gives the rhizomes time to establish good root systems before the following growing season.
  • Propagate by seed in pots in a shady cold frame as soon as seed is ripe; takes 5-7 years to reach flowering size. Propagate rhizomes by division after flowering
  • Native to the Eastern United States

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Melanthiaceae
Genus Trillium
Common names Wake Robin
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' (30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Full Shade
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Trillium (Wake Robin) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Trillium ovatum (Western Trillium)
Trillium erectum (Red Trillium)
Trillium grandiflorum (White Trillium)
Trillium grandiflorum f. roseum (Pink Trillium)
Trillium sessile (Toadshade)
Trillium kurabayashii (Giant Purple Wakerobin)

Recommended Companion Plants

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Painted Lady Fern)
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’ (Barrenwort)
Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) ‘Brunette’ (Baneberry)
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
30 Great Perennials for Shade
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
20 Spring Wildflowers to Create a Dazzling Garden
Trillium
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Melanthiaceae
Genus Trillium
Common names Wake Robin
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' (30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Full Shade
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Trillium (Wake Robin) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Trillium recurvatum (Prairie Trillium) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Trillium recurvatum (Prairie Trillium) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone