Trillium undulatum aka Paint Trillium

Trillium undulatum, or painted trillium, is a wildflower that lives for years. It belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. It grows in eastern North America. Its range spans eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It runs south along the Appalachians to northern Georgia. Wild plants grow in woods and thickets with acid soil. Pines, hemlocks, and oaks grow near them. So do rhododendrons and mountain laurels. In North Carolina, most grow in the mountains.

Garden plants reach about 1–1.5 feet (0.30–0.46 metres) tall and wide. Another source gives heights up to 2 feet (0.61 metres). That source gives a smaller spread of 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.30 metres). Growth is slow. Stout rhizomes, or underground stems, lie beneath the soil. They grow straight, smooth, green stems that have no branches. Three broad, egg-shaped bracts ring each stem. These parts look like leaves. They have stalks, smooth edges, and pointed tips. Their green surfaces may have a maroon tint.

Each stem that blooms bears one flower above the bracts. It faces up or out and opens in April or May. The white petals have wavy edges. Their bases range from deep pink to purple. Flowers can span about 0.17 feet (0.05 metres). Red capsules that look like berries follow the flowers. In North Carolina, fruit ripens from July through August. Small mammals eat the fruit, and ants carry the seeds. Honeybees and bumblebees seek pollen and nectar from the flowers. The plant also hosts two kinds of moth. These are black-patched clepsis and American angle shades.

Grow it in dappled or full shade. Use rich soil full of humus, or decayed plant matter. Keep the soil moist, with good drainage and a little acid. Water in dry spells from spring through early summer. Its listed hardiness range is USDA zones 3–8. It suits woodland gardens and areas for native plants. It also suits planting in groups. Yet it can be very hard to grow well. It does not take well to moves. Raising it from seed is hard, too. Leave plants in place once they take root. Some plants sold for gardens come from the wild.

Slugs and snails may harm plants, though serious problems are rare. Leaf spot, rust, and smut can also occur. Sources say young leaves still unfolding are edible once cooked. This does not show that other parts are safe. NC State warns that fruit may cause low-severity poisoning. It says the toxic substance and symptoms remain unknown. PFAF reports no known hazards. The sources thus disagree on safety.