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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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image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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