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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Clintonia uniflora (Bride's bonnet)
Glase, Terry

Clintonia uniflora

Clintonia uniflora (Menzies ex Schult. & Schult. f.) Kunth

Bride's Bonnet, Queen Cup, Bead Lily

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonym(s): Smilacina borealis var. uniflora

USDA Symbol: CLUN2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Each rosette of 2-3 oblong, glossy-green leaves, up to 6 in. in height, bears a short flowering stalk with one or two open, bell-shaped, white flowers. 1 (rarely 2) white, star-like flower blooms on a short leafless stalk that grows from a basal cluster of 2 or 3 oblong or elliptic, shiny leaves. Each flower is followed by a single, amethyst-blue berry. This is a spreading perennial and serves as a ground cover.

Generally there are several clusters of leaves in a patch, for the plant produces an extensive system of underground stems.

 

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 10 inches tall when flowering.
Fruit: Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: AK to Tulare Co., CA, e. to s.w Alt. & w. MT
Native Habitat: Cool, mid-elevation forests

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Rich, moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Bead lily will need protection from slugs.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Ruffed grouse are fond of the blue berries.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Propagate by root divisions taken in spring or by seed. Seedlings will take up to 4 years to flower.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Clintonia uniflora in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Clintonia uniflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Clintonia uniflora

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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