Known to be toxic - The berries and other plant parts should not be eaten. They may cause gastrointestinal upset and are potentially harmful to children and pets.
Plant Names
Clintonia borealis
Yellow Clintonia
Clintonie boréale
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Yellow
Bloom Period: May - Jun
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
Tolerates wet soil condition
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Tolerates wet soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Spreads by rhizome
Spreads by rhizome
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for woodland gardens
Suitable for woodland gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Supports birds
Supports birds
Tolerates:
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
Yellow Clintonia is a beautiful woodland perennial with broad, glossy green leaves arranged in a low clump. A single flowering stem rises above the foliage in late spring, carrying several yellow, bell-shaped flowers. These are followed by distinctive blue berries. It naturally grows in cool, moist forests and acidic woodland soils. It prefers partial to full shade and humus-rich soil. It is slow-growing and can take several years to establish. It is best left undisturbed once established. Keep soil consistently moist, particularly during establishment as it does not tolerate hot, dry conditions.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Taiga Shield
- Boreal Plains
- Hudson Plains
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Clintonia borealis
No butterfly data available for this plant.
Specialized Bees Supported by Clintonia borealis
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Actaea pachypoda
White Baneberry
Actée à gros pédicelles - Actaea racemosa
Black Snakeroot
Cimicaire à grappes - Actaea rubra
Red Baneberry
Actée rouge - Arisaema dracontium
Green Dragon
Arisème dragon - Arisaema triphyllum
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Arisème petit-prêcheur - Gaultheria procumbens
Eastern Teaberry
Thé des bois - Geranium maculatum
Spotted Geranium
Géranium maculé - Geranium robertianum
Robert’s Geranium
Géranium de Robert - Trillium erectum
Red Trillium
Trille rouge - Trillium grandiflorum
White Trillium
Trille blanc
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Astilbe (Astilbe)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 2 years
- Double dormancy required
- Notes: Keep seeds moist in fridge. Sow promptly
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: July
- Harvesting indicator:
- Berries are ripen and easily fall off or have fallen off
- Harvesting:
- Squeeze berries to extract seeds, wash with soapy water to remove flesh, rinse throroughly using a strainer
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: None
- Seed storage:
- Keep moist and cool, in a ziploc bag, in the fridge, with the seeds in soil, paper towel or coffee filter, until donation
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
The berries and other plant parts should not be eaten. They may cause gastrointestinal upset and are potentially harmful to children and pets.