Trillium cernuum (Nodding Trillium)
| Also known as: | Whip-poor-will Flower |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Trillium |
| Family: | Melanthiaceae (Trillium) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; acidic woods |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 8 to 20 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FAC MW: FAC NCNE: FAC |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/nodding-trillium_0518_161332.jpg)
A single flower hangs down at the end of a stem ½ to 1½ inches long. Flowers are about 1½ inches across and have 3 white petals and 3 green sepals almost as long as the petals. The petals and sepals both curve up, with the petals usually curving more strongly. There are 6 stamens with pinkish purple tips (anthers) that hang down from the center. The anther is typically about half the length of the stamen.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/nodding-trillium_0518_161418.jpg)
A whorl of 3 leaves is at the top of the otherwise naked main stem. Each leaf is broadly oval to diamond-shaped, up to 4 inches long and wide with a sharply pointed tip. The leaf edges are wavy but otherwise smooth.
Notes:
It is very easy to miss these flowers because the leaves tend to drape over them, hiding them from view. When I went out looking for them, I had to lift up the leaves to see if flowers were there and found flowers only on the tallest plants. There is a similar species, Drooping Trillium (T. flexipes). Various references mention that the length of the flower stalk or anthers, the degree the petals curve, the degree the flower angles, size of the leaves, or other differences can help in differentiating the 2 species but there is much overlap in all those respects. I used to believe the color of the anthers was the best way (Drooping Trillium usually has creamy anthers) but have found that is not reliable, either (sigh). General rule: if the flower is below the leaves and it has pinkish purple anthers, it's Nodding Trillium, but location in the state can help ID it as well, as Drooping Trillium is far less common. At one time Trillium was in its own Trilliaceae family, then moved to the Liliaceae (Lily) family, and is now back in its own family, renamed Melanthiaceae.
Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
Nodding Trillium plant
more plants
underside of a flower
more flowersPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and in Anoka County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-06-05 08:09:11
I was visiting Spruce Hill Park in Douglas County when I came upon a single Nodding Trillium. I thought the three leaves looked somewhat like a Jack in the Pulpit, but when I looked underneith the leaves I was overjoyed to see this beautiful little flower. I did not know what it was at the time. I took several pictures and identified it from your site. Thanks for the info.
on: 2009-06-15 15:10:18
I have found one just off our logging road to our back acreage north of Frazee, Minnesota. I thought it might be a regular trillium until I found the flower underneath. What a wonderful find to add to the oodles of blooming yellow lady slippers just beyond on our wooded hill. I used the Wildflowers of Wisconsin book to identify the plant.
on: 2010-05-01 21:55:20
I saw about 6 nodding trilliums today in a small wooded area on the Rum River in Anoka, north of the county library. This is the first year I have noticed nodding trilliums though I have run that area for 20 years and have seen large flowered trilliums. Other flowers in bloom right now: yellow bellwort; anemones; puccoons; yellow & purple violets; prairie smoke is budded out.
on: 2010-05-11 19:23:48
I recently came accross one of these flowers in our woods. We live in the backwoods off the Ottertail River. I believe our woods were once the original river bed bottom before Ottertail put in a diversion damn.
on: 2010-05-25 08:05:47
Found one plant in the woods on our property...beautiful. Audubon Guide says it's native to eastern No. Amer.
on: 2010-05-26 15:27:08
The natural range for this trillium goes as far west as the Dakotas and north into Canada.
on: 2010-06-03 21:26:47
I have these blooming all over on my property. Yes, you have to look underneath the leaves to admire there beauty.
on: 2010-06-05 11:53:28
Several plants were found amongst snow on the mountain on our property. All were flowering, very tall and beautiful!
on: 2011-05-20 22:03:49
I found two of these in a woods near my home. I didn't know at the time what they were. I had a feeling it was some kind of trillium. It was very hard to spot and the leaves of three was thing that caught my eye. Beautiful flower.
on: 2011-05-21 13:12:23
I found several of these while hiking at Carley State Park amongst the bluebells.
on: 2011-05-23 09:15:05
We saw bunches of them along the river path at William O'Brien State Park this week! Beautiful!! 5/20/2011
on: 2011-06-01 20:02:18
Walking along the local township road tonight, we saw these beautiful flowers. In full bloom. The road ditch was full of them
on: 2011-06-28 11:36:00
Late May /early June shows an abundance of trillia along the Western end of the scenic Skyline Parkway. This has been the highest concentration of this plant that I have ever seen. The woods is covered with them - truly a sight worth the trip.
on: 2012-04-23 01:04:49
We saw one plant only, in flower, near the top of the bluff that plunges precipitously toward the floodplain forest.
on: 2014-05-20 21:08:35
Just about missed these little beauties.
on: 2014-05-21 12:06:11
Quite of few of these blooming today.
on: 2015-05-09 18:42:41
Found several patches of these bloom in today in the woods.
on: 2015-05-18 16:36:47
I was pleasantly surprised to find a Nodding Trillium growing on the edge of my woodlot and yard while I was pulling Buckthorn. It's an awesome wild flower and I am happy to say I have it on my property. I am going to put a small wire cage around it to protect it.
on: 2015-05-22 16:18:22
Saw both the nodding trillium and drooping trillium(I think) along this new trail today Beautiful flowers Also spotted many jack in the pulpits
on: 2015-05-22 17:23:26
the other day I discovered on growing in the woods surrounding our house. After a little wandering, I had never seen one before, so I immediately Googled it to see what they were. Such a delicate and pretty flower.
on: 2015-06-05 16:31:38
The city of Duluth came through our property and made some large clearings in the woods for utility work. There is one area that has a stream running through it. I was walking through to see what spring windflowers might erup, because the area now gets a lot of sun. I was so excited to see a small field of Nodding Trillium. This is the first time I have ever seen them in our woods.
on: 2015-06-05 21:26:11
My husband and I noticed today a new plant growing next to one of our maples in the back yard. We did some research and found it to be the Nodding Trillium. We have never seen this plant and it sure it pretty! I'm glad it's a perennial, and I hope it spreads!
on: 2015-06-11 13:59:52
Found these along the wooded fence line between fields on our farm near Grand Rapids last two weeks.
on: 2016-05-05 15:05:31
These can be found in Chester Creek park in central Duluth. A beautiful park with several waterfalls. I spotted several up on a high ridge.
on: 2016-05-06 16:44:48
Walking along a trail in a wood/forest close to a lake and near a cluster of Jack In The Pulpit plants were a cluster of Nodding Trillium. Dakota County, Minnesota
on: 2016-05-06 20:35:21
Found 1 blooming plant in Bredesen Park along the walking path.
on: 2016-05-16 06:44:06
Came across this one while geocaching near the Dog Park. I have a couple of photos to share if interested.
on: 2016-05-17 12:06:37
Grows in single spots in my yard and in my neighbors. Just starting to produce flowers, but not open yet. My favorite wild flower.
on: 2016-05-31 09:53:09
Saw tons of these plants yesterday in the woods north of Two Harbors, most not blooming quite yet. I've seen them later in the season (the fruit or seed pod, not sure what you'd call it) - had not seen their pretty flowers before. Thanks with the help ID'ing them!
on: 2016-06-03 15:13:21
We have lived here for 27 years and this is the first time we've ever seen them! They are in our roadside ditch - probably at least 20 that we've seen so far!
on: 2017-05-29 14:00:31
Just stating to bloom along many parts of the trails
on: 2018-05-21 11:26:31
We have a small patch of nodding Trillium, just discovered this year. Along with Jack in the Pulpit....beautiful!!!
on: 2019-02-09 20:54:47
I'm a lucky girl! There's a ton of these in the woods on my property. These have beautiful blooms in person. Always excited to see these each spring.
on: 2019-05-20 15:40:06
Just discovered these beautiful little flowers amongst a patch of jack-in-the-pulpits. So excited to see them!!
on: 2019-05-25 21:30:33
I found one nodding trillium in bloom on our property in Pine County near Island Lake close to Moose Lake. Shady spot near lilac bushes. So lovely!
on: 2019-05-29 21:28:04
Saw trillium leaves blooming and buds developing in our backyard last week. Today I went to see if they had bloomed, expecting them to be Grandiflorum. Imagine my delight when, seeing no flower, I looked below the leaves and discovered a small white bloom!
on: 2019-06-02 20:16:46
Spotted on the swampy woods edge near our house. Very beautiful!
on: 2020-05-14 16:52:42
We found two plants (Trillium Cernuum) in our yard this year. We have lived here for 25 years. Obviously, we have been home more this year, and cleaned an area under our pine trees. So cool!
on: 2020-05-16 07:00:04
Saw two of these along a path in the Hidden Ponds area of Eden Prairie. One flower was above the leaves, and on the other plant the flower was under the leaves. Searched this website until I found what it was!
on: 2020-05-19 10:47:20
Found in Birch Island Woods yesterday.
on: 2020-05-24 16:47:28
Popped up in my daughter's Garden in White Bear Lake
on: 2020-05-26 13:14:30
A small patch in my woods, discovered 8-10 years ago, is slowly spreading to where it now covers about 200 squ ft. I feel like there's now enough of them to where I can help them by moving seedlings to different locations. Have had some success with that, but it's important to mark them and I think to keep rabbits off.
on: 2021-05-07 19:29:21
3 specimens, hoping to find a few more.
on: 2021-05-13 18:40:21
These are blooming now, nice.
on: 2021-05-23 13:37:25
We found one plant in our yard. Looking for more.
on: 2021-05-23 16:21:37
During the covid pandemic I saw the leaves begin to unfurl then the next day eaten! Had to wait an entire year, and fence the small area, to figure out this year that there are 4 nodding trillium at the base of a beaked hazel along the driveway.
on: 2021-05-31 18:11:52
Just found a single plant in the woods by my lakeshore. I've been wishing I had trilliums and noticed the leaves right away but no flower. I took a closer look and there it was hanging down under the leaves - so cool. I love finding new native plants on my property.
on: 2023-05-18 09:48:01
What a delightful find! More wildflowers showing after buckthorn removal.
on: 2023-05-25 21:18:07
Saw a fair number of these along a hiking trail in the park. Still in the drooping bud stage, flower not opened yet.
on: 2023-05-25 22:00:31
I saw several Nodding Trillium on Hiking Club Trail and also on a trail along the river near the group campground in William O'Brien State Park.
on: 2023-08-19 16:56:30
My husband just came across Nodding Trillium growing around our house. They now have giant seed pods. One red and the other 3 are pinkish. So pretty. I have never heard of these until I looked on my plant app.