Spring Beauty

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica [C-value 2]
Purslane family (Portulacaceae)
Blooms April - mid-June

The native Spring Beauty is a common spring wildflower in our area. It prefers dappled sunlight during the spring, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant organic matter. Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands, savannas, thinly wooded bluffs and even lawns near trees. This perennial is about 3-6" tall, consisting of a flowering stem with a pair of opposite leaves and some basal leaves. The leaves are about 2-5" long and about ¼" across. The stem terminates in a floppy raceme of flowers. Each flower is about 1/2" across with 5 petals that are white or pale pink with fine pink stripes.

Spring Beauty at Millbrook South Forest Preserve May 4, 2013

Spring Beauty at Baker Woods Forest Preserve April 21, 2014

Spring Beauty at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 9, 2015

Spring Beauty seed heads at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 5, 2015

It is said that Native American children gathered Spring Beauty corms as “underground candy”. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.

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