Fairy Spud Claytonia virginica
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Fairy Spud:
- Phonetic Spelling
- klay-TOH-nee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
