Claytonia caroliniana

Common Names

Broadleaf Spring Beauty, Carolina Spring Beauty, Fairy Spud, Spring Beauty

Summary

Carolina springbeauty (Claytonia caroliniana) is a woodland spring ephemeral perennial in the Montiaceae family native to eastern North America, it grows low to the ground, typically 2–12 inches tall, forming a dense prostrate mat with broad leaves, the inflorescence bears 6–20 flowers, each 8–12 mm across, with five white or pink petals often veined in darker pink, flowers bloom in early spring and close at night and on cloudy days, it emerges from globose tubers, with edible roots and leaves, and seeds dispersed by ants while providing early nectar and pollen for pollinators, above-ground growth withers after seed capsules ripen, in cultivation, it prefers partial shade to shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich lime-free soils, often in rich woods, forest edges, and near streams, it self-sows and can naturalize easily by offsets and self-seeding, propagation by dividing the tubers during dormancy is described, it serves as a spring ground cover or native woodland flower, with edible tubers and leaves offering mild flavors, and no known medicinal uses in the sources

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-10 inches

Spread

4-8 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade

Soil Type

Moist, humus-rich, well-drained loamy soil with high organic matter and mildly acidic pH

Soil Drainage

Well-drained loamy soil that is moist but not waterlogged.

Soil pH

6.0-6.5, Slightly to mildly acidic

Bloom Color

Pink and white (white to pale pink with deeper pink veins)

Bloom Time

Spring (March–May)

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Perennial

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Attracts other pollinators