Western Trillium

Vividly white when they first bloom, then frequently changing colour to deep pinks and purples as they mature, few rainforest flowers are as charismatic as the western trillium. Also called the “wake-robin” in reference to its early spring emergence, the trillium is immediately recognizable by its single flower atop three open leaves. Trilliums may take ten years to go from seed to their first flowering, and yet the above-ground plant only lasts a few short months, vanishing quietly as spring turns to summer. After flowering, trilliums may lie dormant for up to five years. So if you find one in the forest, savour it! It may be years before it flowers again.