Clintonia borealis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dracaena borealis
- Phonetic Spelling
- klin-TOH-nee-ah bore-ee-AL-is
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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It likes moist, cool woods and prefers floor of spruce-fir forests or open, mountain slopes. It can be found in high forests or natural areas. Shade and organically rich, deep cool soils are preferred. Its performance will decline as temperatures rise above 75 degrees F. You can divide the plants underground runners or propagate by seed.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails.
- 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:
- Clintonia
- Species:
- borealis
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, USA, NC
- Wildlife Value:
- Songbirds and chipmunks eat the berries.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Young leaves are chopped and added to salads, or boiled for 10 minutes and served with butter and seasonings. Sour flavor.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a bright, light to dark blue berry that is poisonous.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Description:
- This plant has small umbels of 4-8 yellow to greenish-yellow, bell-like flowers that nod on a leafless stalk. It is 6-parted, has three petals and three sepals, and flowers in a terminal cluster.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Two to five basal, shiny, bright green, oblong leaves and 3-5 strap-like leaves. The leaves are 4-10 in. long, edible, somewhat leathery, and have hairy-fringed margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- This plant CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. No cases are known. Poisonous through ingestion. Poisonous parts are suspected to be the berries.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unknown; suspected since related to toxic plants
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
