Minnesota Wildflowers


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Clintonia borealis (Bluebead)

Plant Info
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):Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: 6-petals raceme

[photo of flowers]  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.

Leaves: basal simple

[photo of leaves] 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:

[photo of fruit]  Fruit is a berry about ¼ inch in diameter that ripens to a deep blue color, and is where the common name originates.

Notes:

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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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and in Anoka County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Julie in Eastern Clay County
on: 2010-04-26 23:18:04

I found several clumps in the untouched oak woodlands behind my house.

Posted by: Lynn in the Arrowhead Region
on: 2010-05-01 19:25:12

I've found hundreds of clumps of this plant in the woods while camping up the Arrowhead Trail (north of Grand Marais).

Posted by: david in Bloomington
on: 2011-02-09 15:19:06

I have a nice patch of them growing in my shade garden.I love the glossy green leaves and little yellow flowers.

Posted by: Cheryl in St Louis County
on: 2011-06-19 12:03:57

The Yellow Bluebead is in full bloom this week along the Superior Hiking Trail. Very lovely!

Posted by: Jane in Iron (15 miles east of Hibbing)
on: 2011-06-28 16:58:21

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.

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