Native Plants

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Cressler, Alan

Claytonia caroliniana

Claytonia caroliniana Michx.

Carolina Springbeauty

Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CLCA

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

A pair of smooth leaves occurs halfway up the slender, 4-12 in. stem. Leaves much wider than C. virginica. Several pink or white flowers with darker pink veins are borne in a loose cluster in the upper part of the stem. Plant disappears from above ground shortly after the seed capsules have ripened.

From the Image Gallery

11 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , CT , GA , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NY , OH , PA , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE
Native Distribution: N.S. to Ont., s. to New England, n. MI & n.e. MN; also mts. to GA, AL & AR
Native Habitat: Rich woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Rich, moist soils. Prefers high humus.

Benefit

Use Food: The tuberous roots can be eaten like potatoes. (Lamb/Rhynard)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Corms.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Edible Plants for North Georgia
January 10, 2010
We are planning a forest food garden in the hollers of the N GA Mountains. Which edible fruit, nut, berry, herb and creepers would be best for this reddish, clay-like soil? The food garden is in...
view the full question and answer

Groundcover for sunny yard in New Jersey
July 23, 2008
Hi. I'm looking for ground cover for a mostly sunny section of my yard. The ground we are looking to cover is next to a slight hill with in a few feet of an in ground pool. I would like something tha...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				FACU			FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1262 - Plants of Carolinian Canada (1994) Lamb, Larry and Gail Rhynard

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

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

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