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Claytonia virginica - L.

Common Name Spring Beauty, Virginia springbeauty, Hammond's claytonia, Yellow Virginia springbeauty
Family Portulacaceae
USDA hardiness 5-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich woods, thickets and clearings[43]. Wetlands, seeps, moist woods, riparian hardwood forests, copses, bluffs, ravines and prairies from sea level to 1000 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America - Quebec to Texas. A garden escape, locally naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade
Claytonia virginica Spring Beauty, Virginia springbeauty, Hammond


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 37.
Claytonia virginica Spring Beauty, Virginia springbeauty, Hammond
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kaldari

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, White. Main Bloom Time: Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Claytonia virginica is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from March to April, and the seeds ripen in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. grandiflora.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[2, 55, 62, 85, 257]. Rich in starch, it has a pleasant nutty flavour[105, 183]. A radish-like flavour when raw[159], it tastes like a cross between a potato and a chestnut when cooked[183]. The root is rich in vitamins A and C[159]. The globose tuber is up to 20cm in diameter[270]. Leaves and flowering stems - raw or cooked[62]. Added to salads or used as greens[183]. The leaves are often available in the winter.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Contraceptive

A cold infusion or decoction of the powdered roots has been given to children with convulsions[257]. It has been said that eating the raw plants can permanently prevent conception[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Rock garden, Woodland garden. Prefers a damp peaty soil and a position in full sun[1, 164]. Another report says that it requires some shade[188]. Requires a lime-free soil[164]. Special Features:North American native, Naturalizing, Wetlands plant. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 6 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. Ephemeral emerging in spring and dying back by summer every year [1-2]. The root pattern is a corm swelling at the stem base [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - surface sow on a peat based compost in spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks at 10°c[164]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division of offsets in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Claytonia acutifoliaBering Sea Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 -  LMNM30 
Claytonia carolinianaBroad-Leaved Spring Beauty, Carolina springbeautyPerennial0.1 5-9  LMNM301
Claytonia exiguaPale Spring Beauty, Serpentine springbeautyAnnual0.1 0-0  LMHFSNDM20 
Claytonia lanceolataLanceleaf Spring Beauty, Idaho springbeauty, Pacific springbeauty, Peirson's springbeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia megarhizaAlpine Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia perfoliataMiner's LettuceAnnual0.2 6-10  LMHFSNDM412
Claytonia scammanianaScamman's Claytonia, Scamman's springbeautyPerennial0.2 0-0  LMNM20 
Claytonia sibiricaPink Purslane, Siberian springbeautyAnnual/Perennial0.2 3-7  LMHFSNDM413
Claytonia tuberosaTuberous Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia umbellataGreat Basin Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 -  LMNM20 
Osmunda claytonianaInterrupted FernFern0.5 3-7  LMHSNMWe21 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Martha   Fri Oct 28 2005

Just a quick note to let you know that this plant is also called \"Fairy Spuds\". They\'re also great simmered in olive oil with moral mushrooms, lol!

v sandwick   Sat Apr 21 2007

Found Spring Beauty covering my pastures here in oklahoma. I didn't plant the flowers that came up.They just showed up what a surprise. It's lovely to look at. The flowers cover both of my small pastures. I don't have trees in my pastures but I have a mixture of flowers.

v sandwick   Sat Apr 21 2007

Found Spring Beauty covering my pastures here in oklahoma. I didn't plant the flowers,that came up.They just showed up what a surprise. It's lovely to look at. The flowers cover both of my small pastures. I don't have trees in my pastures but I have a mixture of flowers.

Benjamin   Wed Jul 22 2009

Claytonia Virginica grows rampant here in Northern Wisconsin. Hardy to zone 3 i would say.

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