Claytonia sibirica
A shade-loving Montiaceae perennial native to Siberia and parts of North America, it grows 10–40 cm tall with succulent oval leaves, bears white-to-pale-pink star-like flowers in spring, and is valued for edible greens and ornamental use in moist, shady habitats.
Common Names
Siberian Spring Beauty, Pink Purslane, Candy Flower, Siberian Miner's Lettuce, Indian Lettuce
Summary
Claytonia sibirica, Siberian springbeauty or candy flower, is a Montiaceae perennial herb native to Siberia and western North America. It is rhizomatous and forms a rosette of fleshy basal leaves with upright stems bearing white or pink flowers, often candy-striped with deep magenta veins; plants reach about 15–30 cm tall and can spread to form a ground-cover, flowering from February to August.
In cultivation, it favors moist, shady sites and rich, well-drained soils that remain moist, including humus-rich or sandy, acidic substrates, and is hardy in USDA zones 5–10. It can be used as woodland ground cover, is relatively pest- and disease-free though occasional downy mildew or aphids may occur, and propagates by seed with self-seeding and rhizome spread; near ponds or streams it performs well.
Lifecycle
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Height
6-12 inches
Spread
6-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Partial Shade. Tolerates Full Sun and Full Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained, organic-rich loamy soil with slight acidity (pH 5.5–6.5).
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil that is consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Soil pH
6.0-7.5, slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Pink and White
Bloom Time
Spring to early Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage color
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Moderate
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Bees and flies attract pollinators, with butterflies listed as pollinators in some sources.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 204 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Montiaceae
- Genus
- Claytonia
Inferior Taxa
Claytonia sibirica var. heterophylla
Synonyms
Limnia alsinoides Limnia sibirica Montia sibirica Claytonia alsinoides Claytonia alsinoides var. rosea Claytonia bifida Claytonia bulbifera Claytonia sibirica f. albiflora Claytonia unalaschkensis Claytonia unalaschkensis var. heterophylla Montia sibirica var. heterophylla Claytonia sibirica var. sibirica Montia bulbifera Limnia bulbifera Claytonia assarifolia Claytonia sibirica var. minor Montia sibirica var. bulbifera