Signs of Spring

When it comes to trillium, the name says it all. These members of the lily family, are three-leaved, three-sepaled, and three-petaled spring flowers, a characteristic of Pennsylvania woodlands. Trillium nivale , or snow trillium, is one of the first wildflowers to emerge in March-April and is a sure sign of spring. As its name suggests, this trillium can often be found when snow is still on the ground. Snow trillium prefers moist, hardwood forests and wooded slopes. Its leathery leaves and small stature distinguish it from other species of trillium. In Pennsylvania, snow trillium is considered rare and is only found in Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland, Indiana, and Armstrong County. This plant was found by a WPC employee while hiking along a Tributary of the Sewickley Creek Watershed in Westmoreland County.

The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and The Nature Conservancy to identify plant and animal communities and species of special concern in Pennsylvania, such as snow trillium. This information can be used in conservation, natural resource planning, and management.

For more information on the Natural Heritage Program, go to the DCNR website (http://www.dcnr.state.pa) and type in keyword: Natural Heritage Program.

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