Virginia Spring Beauty

Plant Info

Also known as:	Spring Beauty
Scientific name:	Claytonia virginica
Family:	Purslane (Portulacaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part sun, shade; moist woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	3 to 6 inches
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in a raceme at the top of the plant that elongates to several inches as the plant matures. Each flower is ½ inch across with 5 pale pink to white petals with darker pink veins, and 5 stamen with deep pink tips. The flowers close up at night and on cloudy days. Closed flowers and buds nod down and become erect when the flower opens. One plant has a single cluster of 5 or more flowers, though not all may be open at the same time.

Leaves:

A single pair of leaves are oppositely attached about midway up the stem. There may also be a few leaves around the base of the plant. Leaves are very narrow, up to 6 inches long and ¼ inch wide, have a prominent central vein, smooth edges, and curve downward.

More photos

• a young Virginia Spring Beauty plant, about 3 inches tall
• more flowers
• a group of Virginia Spring Beauty plants

More pink wildflowers. Photos taken at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, MN May 2008

Comments

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

Post a comment

Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission.

Your Name:

Your email address: (required)

Comment: