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Bead Lily Wikimedia Commons
Liliaceae

Bead Lily

Clintonia borealis

Woodland mystery and patience.

Family
Liliaceae
Genus
Clintonia
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial
Height
0.5-1 ft
Sunlight
full shade to part shade
Soil
moist, acidic, humus-rich
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-7
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Named after DeWitt Clinton, the governor of New York who championed the Erie Canal.
  • The common name 'bead lily' comes from the striking metallic blue berries that appear in late summer.
  • The berries, while beautiful, are mildly toxic and should not be eaten despite their inviting appearance.
  • The large, glossy basal leaves were used by Indigenous peoples as a poultice for burns and infections.
  • It can take seven or more years for a plant grown from seed to produce its first flowers.

Color meanings

0

patience

1

woodland wisdom

Uses

  • woodland garden
  • shade garden
  • native plant garden