ExplorePlants

Virginia Springbeauty

Claytonia virginica

Virginia Springbeauty is a lovely little flower that blooms in spring. It has pink and white petals that look like tiny stars, and it grows in shady places like forests.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Virginia Springbeauty has delicate, cup-shaped flowers, usually white or pale pink, with five petals distinctly striped with darker pink veins. Its slender, grass-like leaves grow from a small underground corm.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyMontiaceaeGenusClaytonia
Virginia Springbeauty
flowering trait badgecluster_flower trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
Virginia Springbeauty

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Each delicate flower only lasts for one day before it fades away!

Its delicate flowers close at night, reopening with the morning sun.

Its edible root, called a corm, tastes like tiny potatoes or chestnuts!

Some Native American tribes traditionally used its corms as a tasty food source.

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Snack Stash

Virginia Springbeauty has an underground corm that stores energy, helping it bloom extra early in spring.

Ability

Springtime Speedster

It can pop up and bloom before many other plants, grabbing sunshine when the forest canopy is still bare.

Ability

Seed Shooter

Its dried seed capsules can pop open suddenly, flinging tiny seeds away from the parent plant to spread.

Measurements & details

Height
10-40 cm
Spread
5-15 cm
Flower Size
1-2.5 cm
Bloom Season
Spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Spring Beauty Mining Bee

Andrena erigeniae

A specialist bee that relies heavily on its nectar.

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

Gathers pollen and nectar from its early blooms.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer may graze on its leaves and flowers.

eaten by

Meadow Vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus

Voles may dig up and eat its energy-rich corms.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Virginia Springbeauty?

10-40 cm

How wide does Virginia Springbeauty spread?

5-15 cm

How big are the flowers on Virginia Springbeauty?

1-2.5 cm

When does Virginia Springbeauty bloom?

Spring

Is Virginia Springbeauty edible?

Yes

Is Virginia Springbeauty toxic?

None

What is Virginia Springbeauty's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Virginia Springbeauty pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Plants