We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Claytonia caroliniana - Michx.

Common Name Broad-Leaved Spring Beauty, Carolina springbeauty
Family Portulacaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich open woods, alluvial thickets and upland slopes[43]. Wetlands and riparian hardwood forests from sea level to 1400 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan, south to North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Claytonia caroliniana Broad-Leaved Spring Beauty,  Carolina springbeauty


William S. Justice @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Claytonia caroliniana Broad-Leaved Spring Beauty,  Carolina springbeauty
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 38.

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Claytonia caroliniana is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower in March, and the seeds ripen in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked like potatoes[2, 22, 46, 62, 85, 183, 257]. Rich in starch, it has a pleasant nutty flavour[105, K]. Leaves and stems - raw or cooked[62]. A very mild flavour, they are best mixed with stronger tasting leaves[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a damp peaty soil and a position in full sun[1, 164]. Requires a lime-free soil[164]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 6 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. Ephemeral emerging in spring and dying back by summer every year [1-2]. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet spreading indefinitely [1-2]. The root pattern is a corm swelling at the stem base [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow on a peat based compost in spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks at 10°c[164]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division of offsets in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward I., Québec, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Claytonia acutifoliaBering Sea Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 -  LMNM30 
Claytonia exiguaPale Spring Beauty, Serpentine springbeautyAnnual0.1 0-0  LMHFSNDM20 
Claytonia lanceolataLanceleaf Spring Beauty, Idaho springbeauty, Pacific springbeauty, Peirson's springbeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia megarhizaAlpine Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia perfoliataMiner's LettuceAnnual0.2 6-10  LMHFSNDM412
Claytonia scammanianaScamman's Claytonia, Scamman's springbeautyPerennial0.2 0-0  LMNM20 
Claytonia sibiricaPink Purslane, Siberian springbeautyAnnual/Perennial0.2 3-7  LMHFSNDM413
Claytonia tuberosaTuberous Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 4-8  LMNM30 
Claytonia umbellataGreat Basin Spring BeautyPerennial0.2 -  LMNM20 
Claytonia virginicaSpring Beauty, Virginia springbeauty, Hammond's claytonia, Yellow Virginia springbeautyPerennial0.2 5-7 MLMSM31 
Osmunda claytonianaInterrupted FernFern0.5 3-7  LMHSNMWe21 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Michx.

Botanical References

43200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

mélyssa   Tue Apr 12 17:49:40 2005

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

   Sep 30 2011 12:00AM

Edible Forest Gardens, Vol. 2 (Jacke & Toensmeier), lists this as preferring semi-shade or full shade in the Plant Species Matrix at the back of the book.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Claytonia caroliniana  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.