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Claytonia virginica is often confused with:
Claytonia caroliniana Claytonia caroliniana
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Heuchera americana Heuchera americana
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola pubescens Form

Fairy Spud Claytonia virginica

Other plants called Fairy Spud:

Phonetic Spelling
klay-TOH-nee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh
Description

Spring-beauty is a native perennial in the purslane family found in moist woodland areas in eastern Canada and the U.S.A.  It is a low growing plant with groups of light pink or white flowers that sport dark pink stripes. They open on sunny days and close at night and on cloudy days. The plant spreads by underground tubers and seeds and can be used as a groundcover. However, it tends to disappear after seeds have set in late spring. The leaves are in pairs and basilar, grass-like and will grow up to 12 inches long before dormancy. Spring Beauty grows from corms that are edible with a chestnut-like flavor.

This plant prefers partial shade in moist rich humusy soils with good drainage. It can be naturalized in meadows, woodlands or even the yard and used in rock gardens and native/wildflower gardens. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#native perennial#moist soil#NC native#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#food source spring#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FAC#mammals#Coastal FACU#native edible#bee friendly#Audubon#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#native perennial#moist soil#NC native#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#food source spring#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FAC#mammals#Coastal FACU#native edible#bee friendly#Audubon#meadow#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Claytonia
    Species:
    virginica
    Family:
    Montiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Native Americans and settlers used the tubers as a food source.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern Canada, central and eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NS , ON , QC
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts bees, pollinators, and mammals.
    Edibility:
    Underground tubers have a sweet chestnut flavor.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Oval capsule with seeds is enclosed by the 2 persistent sepals. Occurs March to May.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    5 petaled white to pink with dark pink stripes in loose clusters at the top of the 4-6 inch thin stems. Individual flowers are 1/3 inch across with 2 green sepals and 5 stamens with pink anthers.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are grass-like and linear to linear-lanceolate occurring in pairs on the stem with a few basilar leaves. They may reach 6-12 inches long before going dormant and are around 0.5 inches wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Green to reddish stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals