Clintonia borealis (Aiton) Rafinesque. Common name: Bluebead-lily, Yellow Clintonia. Phenology: Late May-Jun (-Aug); Jul-Sep. Habitat: Spruce-fir forests, northern hardwood forests, less commonly in red oak forests, cool rocky seepages. Distribution: NL (Labrador) west to MB, south to NJ, PA, and n. IN, and in the mountains to w. NC, e. TN, and n. GA (Jones & Coile 1988).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA26, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Va, W, Hayashi et al (2001), Maryland Natural Heritage Program (2019). Basionym: Dracaena borealis Aiton 1789
Links to other floras: = Clintonia borealis - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from a basal rosette, found in cool, moist forests such as spruce-fir, northern hardwood and (less commonly) red oak forests.
Stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape.
Leaves: Leaves in a basal rosette, sessile, oval with pointed tips and strongly inset midvein, 5-12 in. long, shiny-green.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 4-8 in an umbel terminating the slender, leafless flowering scape; yellow, ½-¾ in. wide, consisting of 6 narrow tepals that are downy on the outside and 6 protruding stamens.
Fruits: Fruit a dark blue berry.
Comments:
Height: 6-16 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from a basal rosette, found in cool, moist forests such as spruce-fir, northern hardwood and (less commonly) red oak forests.
stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape.
leaves: Leaves in a basal rosette, sessile, oval with pointed tips and strongly inset midvein, 5-12 in. long, shiny-green.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 4-8 in an umbel terminating the slender, leafless flowering scape; yellow, ½-¾ in. wide, consisting of 6 narrow tepals that are downy on the outside and 6 protruding stamens.
fruits: Fruit a dark blue berry.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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