Bare Root Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Bulbous, spring-blooming, native perennial
Description: Delicate pale pink flowers with deep pink veins; early-spring flowers open with the sun and remain closed on cloudy days; dark green, grassy foliage
Habit: Grows 6-8” high and wide; foliage can reach 9-12” high before dormancy; naturalizes
Culture: Prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil with generous amounts of organic matter; plant bulbs 1-2” deep
Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3

This charming spring wildflower is a true ephemeral, blooming before the deciduous trees leaf out and going dormant by summer. Claytonia virginica, named for Virginia naturalist John Clayton by Linnaeus in 1737, grows abundantly on the wooded slopes of Monticello mountain and along the Rivanna River flood plain.

The chestnut-flavored corms, or underground tubers, are edible and were a food source for early Americans.

This plant will ship bare root.

Bare root planting tips:

~ If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center.

~ Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery.

~ Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.