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Cliff Fairy Bells Wikimedia Commons
Liliaceae

Cliff Fairy Bells

Prosartes lanuginosa

Woodland grace.

Family
Liliaceae
Genus
Prosartes
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring
Type
perennial
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
rich, moist, humus-rich
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The delicate bell-shaped flowers hang beneath the leaves, giving the plant an elfin quality that inspired the common name.
  • The species name 'lanuginosa' refers to the soft downy hairs that cover the stems and leaves.
  • Red berries appear in late summer and are a food source for forest birds like thrushes and grouse.
  • Cliff fairy bells naturally grow on rocky wooded slopes and shaded cliff faces in the Appalachian Mountains.
  • The genus was formerly classified as Disporum before DNA studies separated the North American species into Prosartes.

Color meanings

0

grace

1

delicacy

2

hidden charm

Uses

  • woodland garden plant
  • shade garden
  • native plant garden