Claytonia virginica
Virginia springbeauty
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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
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 pinkFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
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.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons