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(Clintonia borealis)
Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis)
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Alexis
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Alexis
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Alexis | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Alexis | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2018-08-12T12:12:10-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Clintonia borealis, commonly known as Bluebead Lily, is a small perennial herb native to cool, moist, deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as forested wetlands across Eastern North America. It typically grows 5–10 inches tall and is often found in homogeneous colonies. The plant features a basal rosette of glossy, broad leaves and produces small, bell-shaped yellow-green flowers in the late spring, which are modest in their showiness. By late summer, it bears distinctive, almost luminescent, dark blue berries that stand out against the forest floor. The white-berried form (f. albicarpa) is less common but equally intriguing.
Bluebead Lily is valued for its ornamental foliage and unique berries. It is ideal for shade gardens and naturalized woodland settings, where it can form extensive colonies over time. It is a low-maintenance plant once established, requiring minimal care. However, it does best in cool, shaded environments with consistently moist, well-drained, acidic soil. It is not drought-tolerant and should not be exposed to direct sunlight. While it can be propagated by seed or rhizomes, it is slow to spread and establish. Transplanting is typically unsuccessful due to its delicate root system. Gardeners should be aware that the berries are semi-poisonous and should not be consumed.CC BY-SA 4.0
Bluebead Lily is valued for its ornamental foliage and unique berries. It is ideal for shade gardens and naturalized woodland settings, where it can form extensive colonies over time. It is a low-maintenance plant once established, requiring minimal care. However, it does best in cool, shaded environments with consistently moist, well-drained, acidic soil. It is not drought-tolerant and should not be exposed to direct sunlight. While it can be propagated by seed or rhizomes, it is slow to spread and establish. Transplanting is typically unsuccessful due to its delicate root system. Gardeners should be aware that the berries are semi-poisonous and should not be consumed.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Yellow, Green
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to cool, moist, deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as forested wetlands across Eastern North America
Other Names
Common Names: Clinton Lily, Bluebead Lily, Corn Lily, Yellow Clintonia, Yellow Bluebead, Yellow Bead Lily, Corn-Lily, Blue Bead-Lily, Poisonberry, Snakeberry
Scientific Names: , Clintonia borealis, Dracaena borealis, Smilacina borealis, Clintonia aitonii, Clintonia angustifolia, Clintonia biflora, Clintonia biumbella, Clintonia borealis f. albicarpa, Clintonia borealis f. borealis
GBIF Accepted Name: Clintonia borealis (Aiton) Raf.