Clintonia andrewsiana (Andrews' Clintonia)

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Clintonia spp.

bluebead lily

Liliaceae North America and eastern Asia

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–7

Overview

Clintonia spp. is a genus of about five species of rhizomatous woodland perennials in the lily family, Liliaceae, native to the cool forests of North America and eastern Asia. Each plant rises 6-20 inches (15-50 cm) from a creeping rhizome and bears two to five broad, glossy, oval basal leaves 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long. In late spring or early summer a leafless stalk carries an umbel of nodding, bell-shaped flowers, coloured greenish-yellow in the northern bluebead lily (C. borealis), white in others, and deep rose-red in the Pacific C. andrewsiana. The flowers give way to rounded berries that ripen china-blue in C. borealis or black in several species, each holding a few seeds. Plants spread slowly by rhizomes to form open colonies on the forest floor, and the blue berries are mildly toxic if eaten. Clintonia spp. needs cool, moist, acidic, humus-rich soil and deep to partial shade, and it establishes slowly, often taking several years to flower from seed. It declines in dry, limy, or sunny sites and does not transplant easily from the wild.

Native Range

Clintonia spp. is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with four species in North America across the boreal and Appalachian forests of the east and the coastal ranges of the west, and one species in the mountain woodlands of eastern Asia. It grows in cool, shaded, moist forest, often among conifers and on acidic soils.

Suggested Uses

Clintonia spp. is grown in shaded woodland gardens, native plant collections, and damp rock gardens in cool climates, where the foliage, nodding flowers, and blue berries follow each other through the season. The flowers draw woodland bees, and birds take the berries. Its need for cool, moist, acidic shade makes it unsuited to hot or dry gardens.

How to Identify

Look for two to five broad, glossy, oval basal leaves rising from the ground, with a leafless stalk bearing an umbel of nodding bell-shaped flowers in greenish-yellow, white, or rose-red. After flowering, rounded blue or black bead-like berries form at the top of the stalk. The basal leaf rosette, umbel of nodding flowers, and cluster of bead-like berries distinguish Clintonia spp. from similar woodland lilies.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'8"

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer, generally May to July depending on latitude and elevation. The nodding flowers last 1-2 weeks and are pollinated by bees and flies. Blue or black berries follow and can persist into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish-yellow to rose

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 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 Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Clintonia spp. grows in deep to partial shade in cool, moist, acidic, humus-rich woodland soil that never dries out. It suits shaded woodland and rock gardens in cool-summer regions and resents heat, drought, and alkaline ground. Plants spread slowly by rhizomes and are left undisturbed once settled, as they re-establish slowly after division. Hardiness runs through USDA zones 3-7, and growth dies back to the rhizome over winter. A mulch of leaf litter keeps the roots cool and moist. Seed is slow to germinate, often needing more than one cold period.

Pruning

No regular pruning is needed. Remove faded flower stalks if self-sowing is not wanted, though the blue berries are often left for ornament and wildlife. Clear away dead foliage in late autumn as it dies back.