Two Spring-Beauties

West Michigan has two Spring-Beauties: Claytonia virginica know as Narrow-Leaved Spring-Beauty and Claytonia caroliniana known as Carolina or Broad-Leaved Spring-Beauty. Both species have fleshy leaves; the flowers have 5 petals, 2 sepals and only open in sunshine from mid April thru May. Flowers are white to pink with darker pink lines, with the base or ground color being extremely variable. The leaves and the tubers are edible but the tubers are so small it is hardly worth the effort. The two species overlap in the middle of the Lower Peninsula but rarely are found growing together.

Spring-Beauty Claytonia virginica

Spring-Beauty (Claytonia virginica) has narrower leaves, being more than 8 times long as they are broad and is a more southern species. Found in upland beech-maple and oak forest and can also be found in lowland forest as well. They often persist after clearing and can form large carpets of flowers.

Broad-Leaved Spring-Beauty Claytonia caroliniana

Carolina Spring-Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) also known as Broad-Leaved Spring-Beauty is a more northern species but does extend down to Muskegon County and can be found in Hoffmaster State Park. Caroliniana has smaller flowers than virginica and the leaves are broader, generally less than 8 times as long as broad. Found in rich woods and is more often associated with conifers than oak forest.