Large-flowered Bellwort
Uvularia grandiflorum
Pendant, twisted yellow bells on arching stems in April and early May. Foliage stays green all season, spreading slowly into woodland colonies.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
The long, twisted yellow spring bells and well-behaved spreading habit make this one of the most graceful choices for naturalizing in shade.
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.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown large-flowered bellwort propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant large-flowered bellwort instead of Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) in moist woodland settings. Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 1–2 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Colchicaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America, from Quebec south to Georgia and west to the Dakotas; rich, moist woodlands
Care notes for large-flowered bellwort.
Part to full shade, consistently moist, rich, humus-rich soil. Amend at planting with compost or leaf mold. Mulch annually with shredded leaves to mimic forest floor conditions. Avoid dry sites. Spreads slowly by rhizome to form colonies. divide in early fall if clumps become crowded. No significant pests or diseases.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside large-flowered bellwort.
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