Blue Bead Clintonia borealis
Other 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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Blue Bead is a small, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the lily family usually found in large spreading colonies in moist, cool woods, spruce-fir forests, or open, mountain slopes. The plant is composed of 2 to 4 curved leaves, small flowers at the ends of long, 20 inch, stalks, and dark blue, bead like berries that give the plant its common name. The plants slowly spread by underground rhizomes or can be propagated by division or by seed. The genus is named in honor of the former governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) The species name, borealis, meaning "of the north", alludes to the plant's preferred environment in Canada and the Northeastern United States.
Blue Bead does best in shaded sites with organically rich, moist, acidic soils preferred. It does not do well in heat and will decline when temperatures rise above 75 degrees F. However, in the right environment and the right amount of patience, the plant will make an excellent ground cover.
Bees will suck nectar or collect pollen from Blue Bead flowers; flies and beetles as well feed on pollen and nectar. Short-tongued bees and flies are usually non-pollinating.
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:
- Eastern North America, Newfoundland south to the Appalachians.
- Distribution:
- South to North Carolina and Georgia, west to the Great Lakes.
- 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
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- 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:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Terminal raceme of small 4 to 8 yellow to greenish-yellow, bell-like flowers that nod on a tall 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 four basal, shiny, bright green, oblong leaves and 3 to 5 strap-like leaves. The leaves are 4 to 10 inches 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
