Trilliums in Minnesota: Protected on All Lands — No Picking Without a Permit

Legal Protection for a Spring Ephemeral

It is illegal to pick, dig, or destroy trilliums (any *Trillium* species) in Minnesota — even on private land — without a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Legal Basis

• Minnesota Statutes § 84.0895 — "Protection of certain wildflowers." Lists trilliums (along with lady's slippers, lotus, gentians, others) as **protected wildflowers**.
• Minnesota Rules 6134.0100–6134.0400 — Implements statute; prohibits taking, transporting, selling without permit.
• Applies statewide, all ownerships — public, private, tribal. Landowner permission does not override state law.

Why Such Strict Protection?

• Slow reproduction: Trilliums take **7–10+ years from seed to flower**; rhizomes spread slowly.
• Easy to kill: Picking the flower/leaves removes the season's photosynthetic capacity — often kills the plant.
• Habitat loss: Woodland development, invasive species (buckthorn, garlic mustard), deer browse.
• Commercial pressure: Wild-dug plants sold nurseries; law deters poaching.

Permit Process (Rarely Granted for Personal Use)

• Apply to **MNDNR Ecological & Water Resources Division**.
• Typically only for: **scientific research, salvage ahead of permitted development, botanical garden collections**.
• Not for personal gardens, bouquets, or herbal use.

What You *Can* Do

• Photograph, admire, monitor — citizen science (iNaturalist, MN Wildflower Monitoring).
• Buy nursery-propagated plants — reputable native nurseries (Prairie Moon, Landscaping with Native Plants, local SWCD sales) sell ethically sourced trilliums.
• Protect habitat on your land: Remove invasives, limit deer, avoid soil compaction.

Penalties

• Misdemeanor: **up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail** (per plant/incident).
• Restitution for ecological value.

Enjoy trilliums where they grow. Their fleeting spring bloom is a gift of intact woodland — not a harvestable commodity.