I've tried for years to add the lovely little native flower Spring Beauty to the native "meadow" I've been developing in my urban backyard. I had no luck with seeds. My local native nursery, Bluestem Natives, couldn't get them to germinate last year either, citing too-warm a winter. I finally managed to order bare root plants from Prairie Moon Nursery last summer, and planted them when they arrived in fall.
When April arrived I gradually became discouraged as the beginning of their flowering season passed: perhaps I should have watered my roots in our VERY dry fall??
Today not only were a few tiny, sprawling plants visible -- they had a few flowers!
About half my plants not yet heard from, but -- Immense relief!
Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a low perennial with lance-shaped, opposite leaves.
It emerges and flowers early, taking advantage of sunlight available before other plants have leafed out.
