Pronounced (approximate): klin-TOH-nee-ah bor-ee-AL-is
Nodding yellow-green flowers have six spreading tepals. Broad smooth leaves cluster at ground level.
Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis): flower details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Liliaceae
Life cycle Perennial
Blooms May–June
Height 6 to 16 inches
Habitat part shade, shade; moist woods, swamps
Common names: Bluebead Lily · Bluebead · Yellow Clintonia
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
part shade, shade; moist woods, swamps. Flowering season: May–June.
Canada Mayflower has much smaller flowers and usually fewer leaves. Bluebead Lily has larger yellow-green flowers and conspicuous blue fruit.
Nodding yellow-green flowers have six spreading tepals.
Broad smooth leaves cluster at ground level.
Round berries ripen to a rich blue. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
21 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native in North America.
Reported U.S. distribution
CT, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Bluebead Lily in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.