
| Also known as: | Yellow Bluebead Lily, Yellow Clintonia, Corn Lily |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Clintonia |
| Family: | Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; moist woods, swamps |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 6 to 16 inches |
| County distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
| Spotted in Ramsey County at: |
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Flowers are in groups of 2 to 6 at the end of a long naked stem that sprouts from the base of the plant. Individual flowers are up to 1 inch long and a typical lily bell shape, 6 tepals (petals) that flare out, 6 long stamens with yellow tips and a long straight style. The color is yellow to yellowish green. The flowers tend to nod down. Each plant has a single stem of flowers.
There are 2 to 4 leaves around the base of the plant, each up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide with a pointed tip and tapering at the base. There is a distinct central vein and faint parallel veins. The surface is glossy.
Fruit is a berry about ¼ inch in diameter that ripens to a deep blue color, and is where the common name originates.
Bluebead grows in clumps and can form large colonies. A pretty common species, it's hard to avoid coming across it in just about any moist woods, bog or swamp north of the Metro. Formerly in the Liliaceae (Lily) family, Clintonia has been reassigned to the Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus) family.
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Photos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and in Anoka County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
I've found hundreds of clumps of this plant in the woods while camping up the Arrowhead Trail (north of Grand Marais).
I have a nice patch of them growing in my shade garden.I love the glossy green leaves and little yellow flowers.
The Yellow Bluebead is in full bloom this week along the Superior Hiking Trail. Very lovely!
I have many (probably thousands) of these, growing in shady, swampy, wooded areas. I am wondering if the blue berries they produce in late summer are poisonous? The berries look a lot like blueberries...really, big, beautiful blue berries. I wondered why none of the forest critters ate the berries, until I tasted one. They are extremely bitter.
on: 2010-04-26 23:18:04
I found several clumps in the untouched oak woodlands behind my house.