Medeola virginiana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gyromia virginica
- Medeola virginica
- Phonetic Spelling
- med-EE-oh-luh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Indian cucumber-root is a native perennial wildflower found in Eastern Canada and the East Central and Eastern United States in woodlands, ravines, and valleys. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall and has upright, hairy, unbranched stems. On flowering plants, the leaves grow in two tiers and are whorled, lanceolate, with acute tips. Non-flowering plants have only one tier of leaves. The flowers bloom in late spring and are small, greenish to yellow, with a dangling or nodding habit. They emerge from a whorl of three leaves at the top of the stem. Berry-like fruits are initially green, then ripen to a bluish-purple in late summer. The roots are small, tuber-like, and brittle. Indian cucumber-root belongs to the lily family (Liliaceae). The genus name Medeola honors Medea of Greek mythology.
Prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil.
Leaves that grow below fruit develop red areas on the surface, matching the color of the dark fruit.
Endangered in Illinois and Florida
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Medeola
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the root for food and medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to the East Central & Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: Canada-- New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec; United States--Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin; Introduced: Bermuda
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds.
- Edibility:
- The thickened rootstalk of this plant may be eaten raw, resembling somewhat the taste of cucumber. It may also be used in salads. Although Native Americans used the rootstalk for food, this is no longer recommended because plants are becoming quite scarce in many regions.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 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:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dark blue berries with red pedicel- inedible. Fruits are available September-October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Nodding yellow-green flower on top of a slender, woolly unbranched stem; petals and sepals curve backward. Flowers bloom from May through June
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Upper whorl of three 1-3 in. leaves; lower whorl of 6-10 leaves, 2.5-5 in. long; all are ovate to lanceolate. They become purple-tinged when in fruit.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- White hairy when young
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
