PlantFiles: Large Bellwort
Uvularia grandiflora

I would rank this as on the top 10 easy native shade wildflower of the Eastern United States to grow. When it first comes up, the leaves have a bluish cast, and before the leaves filled out, the flowers take place. They form a nice tight clump, can be a bit tough to divide due to their small buds and long fleshy shallow roots but they don't care about being dug up and teased apart so now I have at least 20 or more clumps in my yard! They will germinate from seeds in the garden, but at a low to medium rate - possible need broad genetic variety to set seeds? The seedlings often look like tiny solomon's seals.

I have a clump that was here 4 years ago when we bought the house. It's still the same size. I love the plant and wish it would spread, but no luck here. It grows on a slope in full shade under very tall oaks on the north side of the house. This area gets no supplemental water and is pretty dry most of the summer. The plants don't behave as ephemerals but stay green all through warm seasons.

This plant is native to my property and is a lovely wildflower. It has very interesting foliage that looks like the leaves have been sewn to the stem (perfoliate). The plant forms colonies, but also comes up from seed scattered around in late summer. It is not necessary to keep it watered unless you are growing it in a flowerbed and want to keep it fresh looking for an extended period.

Uvularia grandiflora is a native wildflower of the Iowa woodlands. According to Sylvan Runkel and Alvin Bull, it grows to 20 inches. Roots, shoots and leaves were used for food by early settlers. In early medicine, it was used as a general stomach remedy, a poultice for wounds and skin inflammations. A concoction from the roots was used for canker sores.

A woodland ephemeral, bellworts have yellow flowers and three-cornered green seed capsules. They thrive in areas with deep leafmould and high shade, such as from deciduous trees.

The plants should be divided every few years, and will readily form new colonies within a few seasons after being moved. Mulch generously with rotted straw, marsh hay, or old leaves.