Bulbs, Weeds > Claytonia > Claytonia virginica > Claytonia virginica
Claytonia virginica
Eastern Spring Beauty
Origin: Native to eastern North America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
One of the spring gems of Eastern North America but seldom seen in cultivation; pity. I have observed this growing freely in mixed, climax forest stands in the Muskoa's of Ontario, Canada, where it has carpeted the ground in large colonies in early spring.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Montiaceae |
| Genus |
| Claytonia |
| Species |
| virginica |
| Category |
| Bulbs, Weeds |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3 - 8 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 1 - 8 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -37 - (-7) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -35 - 20 |
| Height |
| 15 - 23 cm |
| Spread |
| 15 - 23 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A delicate spring wildflower with star-shaped white or light pink flowers and grass-like, dark green leaves and small, edible tubers that are similar to potatoes but taste like chestnuts. |
| Landscape |
| Excellent for mass planting in rock or wildflower gardens. |
| Cultivation |
| Organically rich soil, high moisture level with full sunlight exposure. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Habitat |
| Mature woodlands, usually in climax stands where there is adequate moisture and a good depth of forest duff. |
| Leaf Description |
| Narrow, dark green in colour, growing vertically from the bottom of the stem. |
| Flower Description |
| Light pink petals that take the shape a star in a cluster around the stem with pink veins. |
| Propagation |
| Propagates naturally through bulb offsets and self-seeding. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The small tubers are edible, with a flavour similar to that of a chestnut, but time-consuming to collect. |
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