Uvularia spp.
bellwort
Overview
Uvularia is a genus of about five species of woodland perennials in the family Colchicaceae, native to eastern North America. Plants grow from slender, creeping rhizomes and form clumps of arching stems 6-30 inches (15-75 cm) tall, with the stem appearing to pass through the bases of the clasping, lance-shaped leaves. In mid to late spring, pale to deep yellow, bell-shaped flowers with six twisted tepals hang singly or in pairs from the upper leaf axils. The flowers nod beneath the foliage and ripen into three-lobed capsules. The leaves and stems often have a fresh, slightly drooping look that straightens as the plant matures. Species grow in moist, humus-rich deciduous woodland and along shaded slopes and stream banks, spreading slowly to form colonies. Uvularia grandiflora, large-flowered bellwort, bears the largest flowers of the genus and is the one most often grown. The genus dies back to the rhizome in autumn and needs shade and steady moisture, declining in hot, dry, or sunny sites.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States, in moist deciduous woodland, shaded slopes, and stream banks.Suggested Uses
Grown in shade and woodland gardens, native plant borders, and along shaded paths, often with ferns, trilliums, and other spring woodland plants. Suited to naturalising under deciduous trees.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'6"
Width/Spread6" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in mid to late spring, roughly April to May. The nodding yellow bells hang beneath the foliage and last one to two weeks. Three-lobed seed capsules ripen through early summer as the leaves expand fully.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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