Intro: Erect to ascending, colonial understory perennial found in moist hardwood forests, on slopes and in bottomlands.

Stems: Stems smooth, once-branched; forming colonies via underground stolons.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, elliptic with pointed tips, 1½-3 in. long, pale beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: A single flower hangs bell-like on a short stalk from an upper leaf axil; it is cream- to yellow-colored, about 1 in. long and consists of 6 pointed tepals.

Fruits: Fruit a 3-sided, oval-ellipsoid capsule.

Comments:

Height: 6-10 in.

plant sale text: Sessile-leaf bellwort produces bell-shaped pale yellow flowers that hang down from its stems. It grows well in loose, humusy soil that is moist but never soggy. Sessile-leaf bellwort makes a wonderful addition to a woodland garden. This species is found growing on hardwood slopes and in rich coves of the Piedmont and mountains of the eastern U.S. Historically, it was used medicinally by the Cherokee and Iroquois tribes. These choice wildflowers have been carefully propagated at NCBG and are rarely offered for sale.

bloom table text:

description: Erect to ascending, colonial understory perennial found in moist hardwood forests, on slopes and in bottomlands.

stems: Stems smooth, once-branched; forming colonies via underground stolons.

leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, elliptic with pointed tips, 1½-3 in. long, pale beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: A single flower hangs bell-like on a short stalk from an upper leaf axil; it is cream- to yellow-colored, about 1 in. long and consists of 6 pointed tepals.

fruits: Fruit a 3-sided, oval-ellipsoid capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America