SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 10673.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "10673" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

springbeauty

Scientific Name: Claytonia

Family: Portulacaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Claytonia virginica: Virginia Springbeauty

Claytonia virginica, commonly known as Virginia springbeauty, Eastern spring beauty, or fairy spud, is a delightful herbaceous perennial that graces the eastern North American landscape. Its emergence is often considered a fervent announcement of the new spring season.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • The plant is described as small and low-growing.
  • The entire plant, from root to blossoms, is mentioned as being edible.
  • It is a succulent plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica L.
  • Common Names: Virginia springbeauty, Eastern spring beauty, fairy spud.
  • Family: Montiaceae (formerly Portulacaceae - Purslane family)
  • Synonyms: C. grandiflora, Hammond’s claytonia, Yellow Virginia springbeauty

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to eastern North America.
  • Widely distributed across the eastern third of Texas, particularly in sandy soil and along sandy stream terraces across the upper coastal region.
  • Found in various vegetation zones.

Morphological Characteristics

  • A small, succulent, spring-flowering perennial plant.
  • Typically grows to about 3-6 inches tall, consisting of a flowering stem.
  • Flowers are about an inch in diameter with 5 pale pink to white petals with darker pink veins.
  • A short hairless plant.
  • Basal leaves are oval, in a rosette and stalked.
  • The stems have one pair of leaves united in a whorl below the flowers.

Ecological Role

  • It's a spring ephemeral.
  • A woodland plant flowering in mid-spring.

Similar Species

  • Claytonia caroliniana (Carolina Springbeauty, Wide-leaved Spring Beauty) has broader, oval to oblong leaves and is found primarily in moist woods.

Culture

  • Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
  • Plant bulbs 2-3" deep in fall.
  • Tough, extremely cold hardy, low-maintenance.