Perfoliate Bellwort
Uvularia perfoliata
Pale yellow lantern-like blooms in April on stems that pierce right through the leaves. A delicate colony-former for moist, humus-rich shade.
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 perforated leaf and pendant spring flowers are unlike anything else in the shade garden. a conversation piece that also naturalizes beautifully.
Perfoliate Bellwort is one of spring's quieter woodland charms: the stem appears to grow straight through each leaf, giving the foliage a perforated, pierced look that makes it immediately recognizable on the forest floor. The pale yellow pendant flowers appear in April, hanging like small, twisted lanterns below the arching stems. It's smaller and more delicate than Large-flowered Bellwort, topping out at about a foot and a half in good conditions, and spreading slowly by rhizome to form intimate colonies in the right shade garden. Plant Perfoliate Bellwort beneath deciduous trees where the soil stays moist and humus-rich, under oaks, maples, or tulip poplars. It's at home among other spring ephemerals: trout lily, spring beauty, trillium. The foliage persists through summer, staying green and tidy until frost. Like most woodland natives, it rewards patience over the first few seasons as it establishes its root system, then spreads reliably outward from there.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown perfoliate 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.
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 8"–1.5' · 8–12 in wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- USDA zones
- 4–9
- Family
- Colchicaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from Nova Scotia south to Florida; moist to dry-mesic deciduous forests
Care notes for perfoliate bellwort.
Part to full shade, moist to average humus-rich soil. Mulch annually with shredded leaves. Avoid dry, sunny sites. Once established, largely self-sufficient. Slow to establish but long-lived and reliable once settled. Divide in early fall to propagate or thin dense colonies. No serious pest or disease issues.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside perfoliate bellwort.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Skyline Drive Package
This package celebrates the world renowned “Skyline Drive” by featuring native plant species encountered along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
Piedmont Rain Garden Package
For homeowners with a yard that floods when it rains, this package is your solution! The Piedmont Swale Garden Package is comprised of flood tolerant species that will thrive in wet soils.
Exceptional Patio Garden Package
The Exceptional Patio Garden Package is a low maintenance, fool proof way to guarantee an endless color show for you and your guests to enjoy all patio season long.