Clintonia borealis
A rhizomatous, lily family perennial native to eastern North America, forming a basal leaf rosette and a leafless flowering stalk that carries a small umbel of nodding yellow bells, followed by ultramarine blue berries.
Common Names
Bluebead Lily, Yellow Clintonia, Yellow Bluebead Lily, Clinton's Lily, Corn Lily
Summary
Bluebead lily is a shade-loving perennial in the lily family native to cool acidic forests of northeastern and north-central North America, with range extending to the mountains of North Carolina. It forms large colonies via underground rhizomes and produces 2–4 basal glossy green leaves. A slender stalk rises 4–16 inches tall, bearing a short terminal raceme of 3–8 nodding yellow flowers, followed by ultramarine blue berries 8–12 mm in diameter.
In cultivation, it prefers cool, moist, acidic soils in shaded coniferous, mixed, or deciduous woods and benefits from evenly moist, well-drained conditions typical of woodland gardens. It spreads slowly by rhizomes to form colonies and can be propagated by division in spring or autumn or by seed; deer can be a practical concern. It is used in native gardening and restoration and has traditional edible uses for leaves and limited medicinal uses.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-16 inches
Spread
1-3 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-7
Sunlight Requirements
Partial shade to full shade.
Soil Type
Acidic, humus-rich, well-drained, moist loamy soil; pH 4.5–6.0
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
4.5-6.0, Slightly acidic to neutral; about pH 5.5
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green, Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow, 2–20% per year
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Aiton) Raf.
- Publication
- Atlantic J. 1: 120 (1832)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Liliales
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Genus
- Clintonia
Synonyms
Smilacina borealis Clintonia aitonii Clintonia angustifolia Clintonia biflora Clintonia biumbella Clintonia ciliata Clintonia falcata Clintonia glomerata Clintonia latifolia Clintonia multiflora Clintonia mutans Clintonia nutans Clintonia ophioglossoides Clintonia undulata Convallaria borealis Dracaena borealis Clintonia borealis f. lateralis Clintonia borealis f. borealis Clintonia nutans var. prolifera Clintonia nutans var. fascicularis Clintonia nutans var. obovata Clintonia nutans var. dasistema Clintonia nutans var. uniflora Clintonia fulva Clintonia triflora Clintonia borealis f. albicarpa Clintonia nutans var. macrostema