The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, ranging across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and northern Florida.

Trillium maculatum is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant that persists by means of an underground rhizome.

[3] The specific epithet maculatum means "spotted",[9] a reference to the conspicuously marked leaves of some forms of this species.

[15] As a result of Linnaeus' misinterpretation of Catesby's illustration, numerous authors erroniously applied the name Trillium sessile prior to 1830.

Trillium maculatum is endemic to the southeastern United States, ranging across South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and northern Florida.