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Melanthiaceae
Fairy Wand
Chamaelirium luteum
Gentle woodland magic.
- Family
- Melanthiaceae
- Genus
- Chamaelirium
- Native to
- Eastern North America
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 1-4 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- moist, humus-rich, acidic woodland
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Fairy wand is a dioecious plant — individual plants are either male or female, and only the male plants produce the showy, wand-like flower spikes.
- The female flower spike is shorter and greenish, drooping gracefully after pollination — a dramatic contrast to the erect, white male spike.
- Cherokee people used root preparations to treat a variety of ailments, earning it the folk names 'devil's bit' and 'blazing star.'
- The genus name Chamaelirium means 'ground lily' in Greek, reflecting its low-growing basal rosette of leaves that resembles a small lily.
- It is considered a threatened species in some states due to habitat loss and over-collection for herbal medicine, particularly as a uterine tonic.
Color meanings
0
enchantment
1
balance
2
feminine power