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Facts About this Plant:

Clintonia borealis, or Bluebead Lily, is native to northeastern US, the Great Lakes area and the upper Appalachian area. It is a perennial, with large lily-like basal leaves, and grows in cool, moist woods, often in deep shade, but usually requires some sun to bloom. It blooms in late spring to early summer with a stalk cream to yellow flowers.

The plant is one of only four in its genus. All can be easily distinguished from each other when in bloom. Additionally, only two species are in the western US, and have a small area of overlap, and only two species are in the eastern US, and overlap in a small area, also.

The follow criteria can be used to differentiate the species:
Clintonia andrewsii: red flowers; only found on the Western most coast of California
Clintonia borealis: yellow flowers; overlaps into the Appalachians, but is also found in the Great Lakes states and Northeastern US
Clintonia umbellulata: multiple white flowers with speckles; only in the Appalachians
Clintonia uniflora: has a single white flower per plant with no speckles, and can be found only in Washinton, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California.

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