Bellwort

Uvularia grandiflora

One of the first woodland flowers to emerge in spring, Bellwort is a long-lived perennial of the lily family. Distinctive, drooping yellow flowers and leaves are produced on attractive vase-shaped clumps, 12 - 20 inches tall. Unlike so many spring …

More Detail
Plants Bare Root Sold Out
1-4 $11.99 ea.
5-10 $10.99 ea.
11-31 $9.99 ea.
32+ $8.99 ea.
Availability: Sold out
SKU
79640-BR
Cultural Details
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Moisture Dry, Medium
Sun Exposure Partial, Shade
Height 1' - 2'
Bloom Color Yellow
Bloom Time May, June
Spacing 1'
Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Root Type Rhizome
Benefits Pollinators

One of the first woodland flowers to emerge in spring, Bellwort is a long-lived perennial of the lily family. Distinctive, drooping yellow flowers and leaves are produced on attractive vase-shaped clumps, 12 - 20 inches tall. Unlike so many spring wildflowers which go dormant after blooming, Bellwort plants are interesting throughout the summer, as they become more erect after flowering and start to look more like Solomon’s Seal. After setting seed, the stems lengthen and create a visual effect resembling needles, threading through the leaves. Light to moderate shade in medium-moist fertile soil is ideal, though established plants are quite tolerant of dry spells and seldom require supplemental watering. Spreading slowly to form colonies, the mature clumps can be divided in the fall. A variety of native bee species feed on the nectar and collect pollen from the Bellwort flowers. The released seeds have attached food-bodies called elaiosomes, a substance that is attractive to ants which then collect and redistribute the seeds.

Explore our Resources & Guides: How to Transplant Bare Root Plants

Planting and Cultivation Notes
Leave the leaves. This woodland species appreciates a generous covering of leaves in the fall -- it is not necessary to shred the leaves. We recommend planting ephemerals – which we offer in bare root format – in early fall while the soil is still warm, or in early spring. Spring installations will have some time to develop before summer dormancy, but most likely they will not produce flowers the first year. An early fall planting allows the roots time to establish properly before winter, and gives the plants a stronger start the following spring.