Clintonia uniflora
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- klin-TOH-nee-uh yoo-nih-FLOR-uh
- Description
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Queen's Cup is a herbaceous perennial, flowering plant in the lily family native to the mountainous regions of western North America. It has one (sometimes two) showy six-petaled white flower atop a 10 inch high stalk rising from a clump of large blade-shaped green leaves. 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 means "one-flowered", a characteristic that distinguishes this species from others in the genus.
Queen's Cup does best grown in partial to full shade in organically rich, acidic, moist soils. It's native environment is the cool, mid-elevation, forests of the west. It does not do well in heat and will decline when temperatures rise above 75 degrees F. It can be propagated by root division in the spring or by seed though seeding plants can take up to four years before they flower.
Queen's Cup is the smallest of the Clintonia species at 10 inches high. The plant produces an extensive system of underground stems causing it to spread and, with time, developing as a ground cover. It is also used as an ornamental in some gardens. Bees will suck nectar or collect pollen from Queen's Cup flowers; flies and beetles as well feed on pollen and nectar. Short-tongued bees and flies are usually non-pollinating.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
The plant can suffer damage from slugs.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clintonia
- Species:
- uniflora
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alaska, Canada, South to California
- Wildlife Value:
- Ruffled grouse are attracted to the fruits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is followed by a single, amethyst-blue berry.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- One (rarely two) white, star-like flower blooms on a short leafless stalk rising from a basal cluster of 2 or 3 leaves.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosettes of 2 to 3 oblong, glossy-green leaves, up to 8 inches in height and 3 inches wide, bear short flowering stalks with one or two white flowers.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
