Large-flowered Bellwort

Uvularia grandiflorum

Large-flowered Bellwort is one of spring's most graceful woodland perennials. the pendant, twisted yellow flowers hang from arching stems in April and early May, and the whole plant has a soft, drooping elegance that suits the woodland floor perfectly. The warm yellow blooms appear before the leaves have fully expanded, and they're long and bell-shaped with slightly twisted petals that give them a distinctive, languid look. Plant a mass in dappled shade and you get a carpet of yellow in the understory just when the spring ephemerals are finishing. After bloom, the foliage expands into a clean, bright green backdrop that holds well through summer. unlike some spring ephemerals, Bellwort doesn't disappear after flowering, making it a reliable shade groundcover all season. It spreads slowly by rhizome to form colonies, naturalizing beautifully under deciduous trees. Pair it with wild ginger, woodland phlox, or trout lily for a spring combination that feels genuinely like a Virginia forest floor.