SafePlants

Tuberous Spring Beauty (Claytonia tuberosa)

Claytonia tuberosa, commonly known as Tuberous Spring Beauty, is a charming perennial flowering plant prized for its early spring blooms.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant sprouts from a tuberous root, so avoid disturbing the soil in early spring when the plant growth appears.

Considerations for Children

• The entire Spring Beauty is edible, from root to blossoms.
• Native Americans and early settlers dug up the small, round tuberous roots of the Spring Beauty.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Claytonia tuberosa
• Common Names: Tuberous Spring Beauty, Beringian Springbeauty, Eskimo Potato, Fairy Spuds
• Family: Montiaceae (also listed as Portulacaceae in some sources)
• Genus: Claytonia
• Rank: Species
• Synonyms: Claytonia tuberosa Pall. ex Schult. var. tuberosa, Claytonia tuberosa Pallas ex J.A. Schultes

Distribution and Habitat

• Primarily found in North America.
• Observed in tundra environments, such as near Mount Galen in Denali National Park and Preserve.
• Grows in moist and sunny places, including open woods.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Perennial plant growing to approximately 0.2 meters (8 inches) in height.
• Flowers bloom from April to July, with seeds ripening in May.
• Grows from a small, deeply seated, tuberous root.
• Described as a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that is not a grass.

Ecological Role

• Easy to grow in the garden and requires little care.

Related Species

• Also mentioned is Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty), which is noted as also being edible.
• Claytonia lanceolata (Lanceleaf Springbeauty) is mentioned, with its tuber-like corms being eaten fresh.

Further Information

• TERMIUM is the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Claytonia tuberosa.