Trillium rugelii is a long-lived perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant that persists by means of an underground rhizome.

[5] The white flower has a short, strongly recurved stalk (called a pedicel) nodding below the leaves.

The Alabama plants are said to produce "strongly fragrant flowers with the odor of old-fashioned garden roses.

Trillium rugelii was named and described by the English botanist Alfred Barton Rendle in 1901.

[20][21] By reference to a published illustration,[22] Pursh made it clear he was describing a white-flowered form of Trillium erectum.

[23] Similar to Pursh's variety, Small's species was based on Trillium rhomboideum var.

The influential Flora of North America (FNA) accepts Trillium erectum var.

[24] As of December 2024[update], few authorities still follow FNA,[25] but most consider one or both of Trillium erectum var.

Small to be synonyms for Trillium erectum L.[26][27][28][29] A notable exception is Plants of the World Online, which explicitly cites Floden & Knapp (2023).

It is found in the Great Smoky Mountains,[32] Fernbank Forest, Steven's Creek Heritage Preserve, and other places of the Piedmont and southern Appalachian Mountains in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Trillium rugelii is a long-lived perennial herbaceous plant that blooms mid April to May.

The fruits do not appear to be adapted for long distance seed dispersal and most likely fall near the parent plant.

Trillium seeds have a white fleshy appendage called an elaiosome, which attracts ants.

[35] As of December 2024[update], NatureServe reports that Trillium rugelii is apparently secure (G4) across its range.