Ontario Wildflowers website

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Other common names: Fairy Spuds, Good Morning Spring, Grass Flower, Mayflower, Spring Beauty, Virginia Spring Beauty

French names: Claytonie de Virginie

Family: Montia Family (Montiaceae), (Purslane Family (Portulacaceae))

Distinctive features: Early spring flowers, very narrow leaves.

Similar species:
  •   Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) - Broader leaves.


Flowers: Spring;  White, Red/Pink;  5 parts (petals)

Height: 12 cm (5 in)

Habitat: Forests

Lifespan: Perennial.  

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 270    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 32, 238    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 341   

Native/Non-native: Native

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: virginica: of Virginia; Virginian; Claytonia is named in honour of John Clayton (1686-1773), who botanized Virginia for 51 years.


Photographs: 162 photographs available, of which 6 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers

Spring Beauties!

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers

An early mosquito takes a rest...

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers

The long and narrow leaves. This is in contrast to the much wider leaves of Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana).

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flower bud

Flower buds about to open.

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers

A nice clump of Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty.

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers


Range map for Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)