Uvularia grandiflora (Large-flowered Bellwort)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Uvularia |
| Family: | Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; moist woods |
| Bloom season: | April - June |
| Plant height: | 1 to 2 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/largeflower-bellwort-100_4807.jpg)
Hanging yellow flower 1 to 2 inches long with 6 droopy, narrow petals (tepals) that are somewhat twisted; 1 to a few flowers per stem. There are 6 long stamens that are hidden by the petals.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/largeflower-bellwort-100_4804.jpg)
Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide with pointed tips; the base of the leaf is round and completely surrounds the main stem (perfoliate). There are several distinct veins running parallel to the main central vein, the leaf edges are often rolled under, and there are fine white hairs along the veins on the underside. Attachment is alternate. Stems are smooth and light green; a plant often has multiple stems, growing in a clump.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/largeflower-bellwort_0601_114440.jpg)
Fruit is a 3-sectioned capsule roughly shaped like an inverted pyramid with rounded corners. Each cell contains several seeds.
Notes:
Large-flowered Bellwort is easy to ID from the twisted flower petals and perfoliate leaves. Formerly in the Liliaceae (Lily) family, Uvularia has been reassigned to Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus).
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More photos
Large-flowered Bellwort plant
more plantsPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Chisago County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-05-20 12:47:57
I just discovered, May 18, a new growth of large-flowered bellwort in the campus woods of Northwestern College in Roseville. These, along with new growth of Trillium, are evident since the removal of the buckthorn canopy in the woods. Both have "returned" to the woods after years of "hiding."
on: 2009-05-20 15:08:37
Excellent!
on: 2010-04-20 17:17:13
Uvularia grandiflora (Large-flowered Bellwort) now blooming in the Mississippi River gorge just a block from our house in the Seward neighborhood. Just lovely.
on: 2010-04-30 20:44:43
After many years of Buckthorn eradication, I have found really nice colonies now thriving in my woods. I found that seed collection can be tricky as the pods split open all at once and fling the seeds.
on: 2010-08-07 10:09:38
There are many of these in the forested areas around my home.
on: 2011-05-09 19:57:58
We live on the bluff over looking the Mississippi River valley and just found these flowers in an on a North slope where we also cleared a bunch of Buckthorn two years ago. Very pretty and seem to do well both on the edge of the woods and also 50 feet into the woods.
on: 2011-05-22 22:35:47
The bellwort are blooming in profusion in the marshy woods to the south west of Cass Lake, MN. Beautiful!
on: 2011-05-31 13:41:33
The storm that went through last night uprooted an oak tree in a wooded area of our property, near the base of the tree was a group of large-flowered bellwort along with a few trillium. What a thrill it was to see them. I have been thinking about trying to grow trillium in that area but wasn't sure if they wood grow there. I guess I have my answer!
on: 2011-07-02 19:43:56
we discovered these growing along the north side of our house (under an oak canopy). There are 2 large clusters of them. One clump is starting to cover jack in the pulpits, so we may try to move that clump. We'll leave the other clump undisturbed.
on: 2011-09-06 16:07:09
Have 3 large clumps of this in my back yard in the gardens. It is one of the first things that blooms in my yard every spring.
on: 2012-04-23 15:34:11
Discovered Ulvularia grandiflora for first time this growning season on April 23, 2012. Was happy to identify using this site. It's located in a two-year old hosta bed under a canopy of oak trees, which is adjacent to a wetland. The site also contains two types of Solomon Seal and other natives we are trying to identify. We are liking the natural look but are in a quandry. The hosta bed is named "The Pantry" so every plant chosen relates to food or pantry accessories.
on: 2012-05-02 14:18:07
While hiking and taking photos at Lake Maria state park I came across dozens of these Bellwort flowers. The twisting tepals are quite charming making for an interesting flower.
on: 2013-04-11 16:48:04
Saw two bunches of them on side of bluff near park trail.
on: 2013-05-18 23:49:04
These softly twisted petals are intriguing to look at. Such a softly stated flower. Grows all over our wooded hillsides.
on: 2013-05-22 14:52:19
I live on the south end of Maplewood State Park and have many growing in the woods. I also get Jack in the pulpit and many others I am researching. So beautiful!
on: 2013-05-23 19:21:19
I was out hiking on the Suomi Hills Semi-Primitive Recreation trails, and I saw them everywhere! I took a picture and had to identify it here because it was so pretty!
on: 2014-04-17 11:13:20
We call these Wild Oats.
on: 2014-04-17 11:45:20
Marilyn, "wild oats" is more often a common name for the related pale or sessile-leaf bellwort, Uvularia sessilifolia.
on: 2014-05-17 12:53:24
We have bunches of these! We moved here from Denver last fall and it is so much fun watching all the flowers popping up this spring! I can't wait to see what all we have and this site is a great reference! The previous owners planted so many perennials which I just love!
on: 2014-05-22 21:08:47
Got 'em in my yard--very sweet!
on: 2015-05-07 09:11:44
I started cleaning out the woods in my back yard this year. After I had a large area cleared out, these started showing up all over that area!
on: 2015-05-10 07:18:04
First time to see this plant! At the end of the creek trail at the old quarry area that must have burned recently (within months) we saw one clump. 9 May 2015.
on: 2016-04-25 21:15:53
Several blooming near the Dwarf Trout Lilies at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park yesterday.
on: 2016-05-12 13:01:20
Several were blooming in early May on a ridge at William Berry Park in the woods across the road from Lakewood Cemetery. They have a beautiful golden glow in the early morning light.
on: 2016-05-13 14:39:13
I have numerous of these beautiful flowers growing along my tree line, never had seen them before. Noticed these flowers 05/11/16.
on: 2016-05-16 07:01:14
Found a collection of these beautiful flowers while geocaching in the park. Got some great photos too!
on: 2016-05-16 12:26:52
These are some of my favorite spring wildflowers and despite the recent cold temperatures, I was pleased to see that they are now in full bloom in the mature maple-basswood forest along the eastern shores of Leech Lake in the Chippewa National Forest.
on: 2016-05-19 10:31:08
These beauties are out in the thousands right now, it is just so stunning to see a huge sea of them in the woods!
on: 2017-05-01 19:35:13
Photographed what looked like a lone plant, close to the intersection of County Rd. 155 and County Rd. 92 along the NE side of Lake Waconia. Spotted the plant when walking along the Dakota Rail Trail. It was on the lake side of the trail. Photographed April 26, 2017.
on: 2017-05-13 21:06:54
There's one blooming in my South Minneapolis yard right now! And one in my sister's St. Paul yard, too. Beautiful.
on: 2017-05-14 15:35:55
5-6 plants of good size growing in the wooded area above the Ottertail River on my property. Just beautiful!!
on: 2018-05-29 15:17:18
lots of them in the woods! 05-26-18
on: 2019-05-13 13:27:22
Walking in the woods at my son and daughter-in-laws hone and these are all over. Such a pretty site after a long winter! Many Jack in the Pulpits also!
on: 2019-05-30 13:16:56
Forest area along my 1/2 mile long driveway. Very pretty!
on: 2019-06-04 14:48:33
We saw many growing with trillium in the woods near the Tioga Pit.
on: 2020-04-26 13:45:52
Saw bunches of these in the woods at Louisville Swamp near Jordan, Minnesota today 4/26/2020.
on: 2020-05-08 21:53:12
Along the banks of Oak Creek just starting to bloom.
on: 2020-05-10 14:08:19
Saw these on my walk between two ponds. Had never noticed before
on: 2020-05-11 18:14:29
Saw these today on the south end of Lake Harriet. I wasn't familiar with them before! Beautiful!
on: 2020-05-13 21:52:11
Discovered them last weekend on our property at the edge of a ravine.
on: 2020-05-15 14:19:40
Found these growing in Rice Lake State Park.
on: 2020-05-16 20:57:10
May 14, 2020 the woods along the Vergas Trail was abundant with them.
on: 2020-05-16 23:15:06
Saw these at both Eloise Butler Butterfly Garden and on the south shore of Lake Harriet on the wooded slope. The petals remind me of streamers.
on: 2020-05-17 08:20:38
Saw these at both Eloise Butler Butterfly Garden and on the south shore of Lake Harriet on the wooded slope. The petals remind me of streamers.
on: 2020-05-17 10:20:05
Saw many of these growing among the roots of the largest trees in MN at the Lost 40!
on: 2020-05-18 18:49:43
Lots of them growing in the woods behind our house. Never noticed them before. Very lovely plants.
on: 2020-05-19 16:43:22
Abundant right now along sandstone trail within Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls, MN
on: 2020-05-20 11:10:34
Saw several clumps where the beach meets the woods. Beautiful!
on: 2020-05-28 15:51:25
Hundreds of these blooming in state forest in Itasca County over Memorial Day weekend. Grow in clumps of about 1 foot in diameter in shaded woodland area.
on: 2021-04-19 15:46:05
Blooming all over right now in the Dorer State Forest.
on: 2021-05-04 20:19:34
Saw this clump of flowers in lots of shade while walking our dogs.
on: 2021-05-11 14:45:47
Spotted 3 Uvularia grandiflora in an alley in St. Paul! Beautiful petals.
on: 2022-05-04 10:32:11
I saw these growing at my parents' cabin on Briar lake in the 70's or early 80's. I liked the spiral appearance of the yellow flower buds and "tepals", and the relatively tall size of the plants. They multiplied when I put a few in a small semi-shade garden in my backyard. (I had never heard of tepals: "In some plants with no petals, sepals function as petals.")
on: 2022-05-09 07:27:58
I saw clumps of them several places along the trail next to the creek.
on: 2022-05-10 19:33:19
In our wooded lot in moist soil
on: 2023-05-11 00:49:55
I saw many of these plants in the Mississippi River Gorge Oak Savanna Restoration this spring!