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Claytonia virginica

Virginia springbeauty

Montiaceae Eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Claytonia virginica is a low spring ephemeral perennial in the purslane family, native to eastern North America, growing 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall from a small underground corm. Each plant produces a pair of narrow, grass-like, somewhat fleshy leaves 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long on a weak stem. In early to mid-spring it bears loose clusters of five-petaled flowers 0.5-0.8 inch (1.2-2 cm) across, white to pale pink with darker pink veins that guide insects to the nectar; the flowers open in sun and close at night and in cloudy weather. After flowering and seed set the leaves yellow and the plant dies back to the corm by early summer, staying dormant until the next spring. It grows in moist, rich woodland, floodplains, and shaded lawns, often forming carpets where conditions suit. The small corms are edible and have a chestnut-like flavor, drawing the regional name fairy spud. The flowers are an early nectar source for small native bees, including a specialist mining bee that gathers its pink pollen. The plant is not toxic and spreads slowly by seed and offsets from the corm.

Native Range

Claytonia virginica is native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the central and eastern United States. It grows in moist deciduous woodland, floodplains, and shaded grassland.

Suggested Uses

Claytonia virginica is planted in woodland and native plant gardens, shaded borders, and naturalized lawns for its early spring flowers. Because it goes dormant by early summer, it suits ground beneath deciduous trees and shrubs where later plants fill the gap. Over time it forms spreading carpets in moist, shaded ground.

How to Identify

The single pair of narrow, grass-like leaves and the loose clusters of white to pink, five-petaled flowers with darker pink veins identify this spring ephemeral. Each flower 0.5-0.8 inch (1.2-2 cm) across opens in sun and closes at night. The whole plant yellows and disappears by early summer.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'

Width/Spread4" - 8"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in early to mid-spring, often March to May, before the woodland canopy leafs out. The white-to-pink veined flowers open in sunshine and close at night and in dull weather. Bloom lasts a few weeks, after which the plant sets seed and dies back.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale pink

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Flowers in its second or third spring from seed

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Claytonia virginica grows in partial shade to full sun in moist, rich, well-drained woodland soils high in organic matter. It needs spring moisture during growth and tolerates dry conditions once dormant in summer. The plant emerges, flowers, sets seed, and dies back to its corm within a couple of months, leaving bare ground until the next spring. It spreads slowly by seed and by small corm offsets, forming colonies over time in suitable ground. It needs no fertilizing and little care in a woodland setting. The corms sit dormant just below the surface through summer and are easily disturbed by digging.

Pruning

No pruning is needed for this spring ephemeral, which dies back on its own by early summer. The fading foliage can be left in place to feed the corm for the next season. The dormant corms sit just below the surface and are easily disturbed by summer digging.