Claytonia virginica

Home » Plants » Claytonia virginica
Claytonia Virginica I Claytonia Virginica 4 Claytonia Virginica 3 Claytonia Virginica 1 Claytonia Virginica 2 Claytonia Virginica Claytonia Virginica 5
Claytonia Virginica I Claytonia Virginica 4 Claytonia Virginica 3 Claytonia Virginica 1 Claytonia Virginica 2 Claytonia Virginica Claytonia Virginica 5

Claytonia virginica

Common Name: Virginia Spring Beauty

Claytonia virginica, commonly known as Virginia Spring Beauty, is a low-growing perennial that is 3 to 12 inches in height. It features narrow, grass-like leaves and produces delicate pink or white flowers with pink veins in early spring. It is one of our first spring ephemerals to bloom in moist woodlands of Minnesota, but the flowers don’t last long and wither away typically before our hardwood trees have leafed out. Virginia Spring Beauty is excellent for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and shady naturalized areas where early spring blooms are desired.

Characteristics

Product Form Plant
Type Forb
Sun Partial Sun, Shade
Soil Clay, Loam, Sand/Gravel, Calcareous
Moisture Mesic
Average Max Height (inches) 6
Suggested Plant Spacing (inches) 6
Bloom month(s) April, May, June
Bloom Color or Type Pink
Dominance Low

Range Maps

Sowing Information

For most homeowners, the recommended method is to hand-broadcast seed at a minimum rate of 16–64 PLS (Pure Live Seed) ounces per acre. To ensure even coverage, broadcast the seed in perpendicular passes across the site. Grass seed should be broadcast first and lightly raked into the soil. Afterward, apply a light mulch layer using clean, seed-free straw or, preferably, our native Little Bluestem straw, available at our retail garden centers. Once mulching is complete, broadcast native wildflower seed over the area without raking it in. A good rainfall or thorough watering will provide sufficient soil contact for successful germination.

Planting Information

Dig a hole in your planting site slightly larger than the plant’s root system. When placing the plant into the hole, ensure that the soil line remains consistent with its original level in the pot. Fill in around the roots with the excavated soil, gently firming it to eliminate air pockets. Water the plant thoroughly the same day to promote successful establishment.