Veratrum viride W. Aiton. Common name: White-hellebore, Indian Poke, Green Hellebore, Cornhusk Lily, "Skunk Cabbage". Phenology: Jun-Aug; Jul-Sep. Habitat: Seeps, streambanks, wet boulderfields. Distribution: QC and ON south in the mountains to NC, TN, and ne. GA.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: The closely related V. eschscholtzii A. Gray, sometimes treated as V. viride ssp. eschscholtzii (A. Gray) A. Löve & D. Löve or V. viride var. eschscholtzii (A. Gray) Breitung, is western, ranging from AK to OR and n. CA. It differs in its yellower flowers (vs. greenish), its strongly drooping inflorescence branches (vs. ascending to spreading), and its erect flower disposition (vs. spreading); these taxa seem clearly to be separate evolutionary entities warranting species rank.
Other Comments: This plant is strongly poisonous; an insecticide was formerly manufactured from the roots.
Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, C, F, G, GW1, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Zomlefer (1997a); = Veratrum viride Aiton ssp. viride — NE; = Veratrum viride Aiton var. viride — Can, FNA26, NSProv, POWO; < Veratrum viride Aiton — K4, NS. Basionym: Veratrum viride Aiton 1789
Links to other floras: = Veratrum viride var. viride - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Veratrum viride, Flat Top Mountain, Chattahoochee National Forest, Fannin County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Will McFarland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will McFarland source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Will McFarland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will McFarland source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Upright perennial from a short vertical rhizome arising from a bulb.
Stems: Stems stout, unbranched, hollow, crowded with leaves, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, attached to stem with tubular sheaths, oval to elliptic, 6-11 in. long, with prominent parallel veins and pleats, reduced upward.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers arranged in a pyramidal, freely branched panicle, the lowest branches subtended by leafy bracts; yellowish-green; about ½ in. wide; consisting of 6 elliptic, spreading tepals with fringed margins.
Fruits: Fruit a short, oval 3-lobed capsule with persistent styles.
Comments: Often observed as large patches of non-flowering plants.
Height: 1-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Upright perennial from a short vertical rhizome arising from a bulb.
stems: Stems stout, unbranched, hollow, crowded with leaves, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, attached to stem with tubular sheaths, oval to elliptic, 6-11 in. long, with prominent parallel veins and pleats, reduced upward.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers arranged in a pyramidal, freely branched panicle, the lowest branches subtended by leafy bracts; yellowish-green; about ½ in. wide; consisting of 6 elliptic, spreading tepals with fringed margins.
fruits: Fruit a short, oval 3-lobed capsule with persistent styles.
comments: Often observed as large patches of non-flowering plants.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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