Uvularia grandiflora (Large-flowered Bellwort)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Uvularia
Family:Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, shade; moist woods
Bloom season:April - June
Plant height:1 to 2 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:none
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 6-petals

[photo of flower] Hanging  yellow flower 1 to 2 inches long with 6 droopy, narrow petals (tepals) that are somewhat twisted; 1 to a few flowers per stem. There are 6 long stamens that are hidden by the petals.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide with pointed tips; the base of the leaf is round and completely surrounds the main stem (perfoliate). There are several distinct veins running parallel to the main central vein, the leaf edges are often rolled under, and there are fine white hairs along the veins on the underside. Attachment is alternate. Stems are smooth and light green; a plant often has multiple stems, growing in a clump.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a 3-sectioned capsule roughly shaped like an inverted pyramid with rounded corners. Each cell contains several seeds.

Notes:

Large-flowered Bellwort is easy to ID from the twisted flower petals and perfoliate leaves. Formerly in the Liliaceae (Lily) family, Uvularia has been reassigned to Colchicaceae (Autumn-crocus).

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Chisago County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Jerry - Roseville
on: 2009-05-20 12:47:57

I just discovered, May 18, a new growth of large-flowered bellwort in the campus woods of Northwestern College in Roseville. These, along with new growth of Trillium, are evident since the removal of the buckthorn canopy in the woods. Both have "returned" to the woods after years of "hiding."

Posted by: K Chayka
on: 2009-05-20 15:08:37

Excellent!

Posted by: Liz - Minneapolis
on: 2010-04-20 17:17:13

Uvularia grandiflora (Large-flowered Bellwort) now blooming in the Mississippi River gorge just a block from our house in the Seward neighborhood. Just lovely.

Posted by: Pat - Meeker co
on: 2010-04-30 20:44:43

After many years of Buckthorn eradication, I have found really nice colonies now thriving in my woods. I found that seed collection can be tricky as the pods split open all at once and fling the seeds.

Posted by: Sandy - Southern Crow Wing County
on: 2010-08-07 10:09:38

There are many of these in the forested areas around my home.

Posted by: Amy - Winona
on: 2011-05-09 19:57:58

We live on the bluff over looking the Mississippi River valley and just found these flowers in an on a North slope where we also cleared a bunch of Buckthorn two years ago. Very pretty and seem to do well both on the edge of the woods and also 50 feet into the woods.

Posted by: Kathy - Cass Lake
on: 2011-05-22 22:35:47

The bellwort are blooming in profusion in the marshy woods to the south west of Cass Lake, MN. Beautiful!

Posted by: Bonnie - Crosslake
on: 2011-05-31 13:41:33

The storm that went through last night uprooted an oak tree in a wooded area of our property, near the base of the tree was a group of large-flowered bellwort along with a few trillium. What a thrill it was to see them. I have been thinking about trying to grow trillium in that area but wasn't sure if they wood grow there. I guess I have my answer!

Posted by: Lou - Edina
on: 2011-07-02 19:43:56

we discovered these growing along the north side of our house (under an oak canopy). There are 2 large clusters of them. One clump is starting to cover jack in the pulpits, so we may try to move that clump. We'll leave the other clump undisturbed.

Posted by: Stephanie - Oakdale - Washington Co
on: 2011-09-06 16:07:09

Have 3 large clumps of this in my back yard in the gardens. It is one of the first things that blooms in my yard every spring.

Posted by: Carol - Alexandria
on: 2012-04-23 15:34:11

Discovered Ulvularia grandiflora for first time this growning season on April 23, 2012. Was happy to identify using this site. It's located in a two-year old hosta bed under a canopy of oak trees, which is adjacent to a wetland. The site also contains two types of Solomon Seal and other natives we are trying to identify. We are liking the natural look but are in a quandry. The hosta bed is named "The Pantry" so every plant chosen relates to food or pantry accessories.

Posted by: Paula - Monticello MN
on: 2012-05-02 14:18:07

While hiking and taking photos at Lake Maria state park I came across dozens of these Bellwort flowers. The twisting tepals are quite charming making for an interesting flower.

Posted by: Mary - Winona
on: 2013-04-11 16:48:04

Saw two bunches of them on side of bluff near park trail.

Posted by: Cory - North Oaks, MN
on: 2013-05-18 23:49:04

These softly twisted petals are intriguing to look at. Such a softly stated flower. Grows all over our wooded hillsides.

Posted by: Debra - Erhard
on: 2013-05-22 14:52:19

I live on the south end of Maplewood State Park and have many growing in the woods. I also get Jack in the pulpit and many others I am researching. So beautiful!

Posted by: Kelsey - Grand Rapids
on: 2013-05-23 19:21:19

I was out hiking on the Suomi Hills Semi-Primitive Recreation trails, and I saw them everywhere! I took a picture and had to identify it here because it was so pretty!

Posted by: Marilyn - Debs, 25 miles NW of Bemidji
on: 2014-04-17 11:13:20

We call these Wild Oats.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2014-04-17 11:45:20

Marilyn, "wild oats" is more often a common name for the related pale or sessile-leaf bellwort, Uvularia sessilifolia.

Posted by: Eileen - Elk River
on: 2014-05-17 12:53:24

We have bunches of these! We moved here from Denver last fall and it is so much fun watching all the flowers popping up this spring! I can't wait to see what all we have and this site is a great reference! The previous owners planted so many perennials which I just love!

Posted by: Melody - Brook Park
on: 2014-05-22 21:08:47

Got 'em in my yard--very sweet!

Posted by: Stacy S. - Kimball
on: 2015-05-07 09:11:44

I started cleaning out the woods in my back yard this year. After I had a large area cleared out, these started showing up all over that area!

Posted by: Jane - Whitewater State Park
on: 2015-05-10 07:18:04

First time to see this plant! At the end of the creek trail at the old quarry area that must have burned recently (within months) we saw one clump. 9 May 2015.

Posted by: C - Nerstrand Big Woods
on: 2016-04-25 21:15:53

Several blooming near the Dwarf Trout Lilies at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park yesterday.

Posted by: mary - Minneapolis
on: 2016-05-12 13:01:20

Several were blooming in early May on a ridge at William Berry Park in the woods across the road from Lakewood Cemetery. They have a beautiful golden glow in the early morning light.

Posted by: Jennifer - Bemidji
on: 2016-05-13 14:39:13

I have numerous of these beautiful flowers growing along my tree line, never had seen them before. Noticed these flowers 05/11/16.

Posted by: Laurie - Checkerboard Park in North Branch
on: 2016-05-16 07:01:14

Found a collection of these beautiful flowers while geocaching in the park. Got some great photos too!

Posted by: Charles - Eastern shore of Leech Lake
on: 2016-05-16 12:26:52

These are some of my favorite spring wildflowers and despite the recent cold temperatures, I was pleased to see that they are now in full bloom in the mature maple-basswood forest along the eastern shores of Leech Lake in the Chippewa National Forest.

Posted by: Michele - Jay Cooke State Park
on: 2016-05-19 10:31:08

These beauties are out in the thousands right now, it is just so stunning to see a huge sea of them in the woods!

Posted by: Holly J - Between Waconia and St. Bonifacius
on: 2017-05-01 19:35:13

Photographed what looked like a lone plant, close to the intersection of County Rd. 155 and County Rd. 92 along the NE side of Lake Waconia. Spotted the plant when walking along the Dakota Rail Trail. It was on the lake side of the trail. Photographed April 26, 2017.

Posted by: Jess - Minneapolis
on: 2017-05-13 21:06:54

There's one blooming in my South Minneapolis yard right now! And one in my sister's St. Paul yard, too. Beautiful.

Posted by: Patti P - Fergus Falls, Ottertail County
on: 2017-05-14 15:35:55

5-6 plants of good size growing in the wooded area above the Ottertail River on my property. Just beautiful!!

Posted by: Marisol Velilla - Jay Cook state park - superior trail
on: 2018-05-29 15:17:18

lots of them in the woods! 05-26-18

Posted by: Patty Schimke - Chisago City
on: 2019-05-13 13:27:22

Walking in the woods at my son and daughter-in-laws hone and these are all over. Such a pretty site after a long winter! Many Jack in the Pulpits also!

Posted by: Kathy Bruzer - Hillman, MN
on: 2019-05-30 13:16:56

Forest area along my 1/2 mile long driveway. Very pretty!

Posted by: Katie Nelson - Cohasset
on: 2019-06-04 14:48:33

We saw many growing with trillium in the woods near the Tioga Pit.

Posted by: Darla - Scott County
on: 2020-04-26 13:45:52

Saw bunches of these in the woods at Louisville Swamp near Jordan, Minnesota today 4/26/2020.

Posted by: Anne Oldakowski - Blacks Grove Park, Ottertail County, Compton Twp sec 3
on: 2020-05-08 21:53:12

Along the banks of Oak Creek just starting to bloom.

Posted by: Missy McMorrow - Eagan
on: 2020-05-10 14:08:19

Saw these on my walk between two ponds. Had never noticed before

Posted by: Jennifer Creadick - Minneapolis
on: 2020-05-11 18:14:29

Saw these today on the south end of Lake Harriet. I wasn't familiar with them before! Beautiful!

Posted by: Mary May - Littlefork, Koochiching County
on: 2020-05-13 21:52:11

Discovered them last weekend on our property at the edge of a ravine.

Posted by: Gene Nelson - Owatonna, Steele county
on: 2020-05-15 14:19:40

Found these growing in Rice Lake State Park.

Posted by: Jean Schilling - Vergas Minnesota Vergas Trail
on: 2020-05-16 20:57:10

May 14, 2020 the woods along the Vergas Trail was abundant with them.

Posted by: LisaBeth Barajas - Minneapolis
on: 2020-05-16 23:15:06

Saw these at both Eloise Butler Butterfly Garden and on the south shore of Lake Harriet on the wooded slope. The petals remind me of streamers.

Posted by: LisaBeth Barajas - Minneapolis
on: 2020-05-17 08:20:38

Saw these at both Eloise Butler Butterfly Garden and on the south shore of Lake Harriet on the wooded slope. The petals remind me of streamers.

Posted by: Sylvia Blomstrand - The Lost 40
on: 2020-05-17 10:20:05

Saw many of these growing among the roots of the largest trees in MN at the Lost 40!

Posted by: Deb Stark - 2 miles west of Nevis
on: 2020-05-18 18:49:43

Lots of them growing in the woods behind our house. Never noticed them before. Very lovely plants.

Posted by: Daniela Bell - Interstate State Park
on: 2020-05-19 16:43:22

Abundant right now along sandstone trail within Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls, MN

Posted by: Renee McRaith - Warner Lake County Park by Clearwater
on: 2020-05-20 11:10:34

Saw several clumps where the beach meets the woods. Beautiful!

Posted by: Amanda Maxwell - Calumet (north of Grand Rapids)
on: 2020-05-28 15:51:25

Hundreds of these blooming in state forest in Itasca County over Memorial Day weekend. Grow in clumps of about 1 foot in diameter in shaded woodland area.

Posted by: Jacquelynn Goessling - Reno, MN
on: 2021-04-19 15:46:05

Blooming all over right now in the Dorer State Forest.

Posted by: Donna Nelson - Schimek Park, Blue Earth County
on: 2021-05-04 20:19:34

Saw this clump of flowers in lots of shade while walking our dogs.

Posted by: Winnie C - St. Paul
on: 2021-05-11 14:45:47

Spotted 3 Uvularia grandiflora in an alley in St. Paul! Beautiful petals.

Posted by: Sherman in Duluth - Near Pequaywan Lake Rd by Briar Lake.
on: 2022-05-04 10:32:11

I saw these growing at my parents' cabin on Briar lake in the 70's or early 80's. I liked the spiral appearance of the yellow flower buds and "tepals", and the relatively tall size of the plants. They multiplied when I put a few in a small semi-shade garden in my backyard. (I had never heard of tepals: "In some plants with no petals, sepals function as petals.")

Posted by: Kate Gipp - Minnehaha Creek
on: 2022-05-09 07:27:58

I saw clumps of them several places along the trail next to the creek.

Posted by: Carrie Gustafson - Plymouth
on: 2022-05-10 19:33:19

In our wooded lot in moist soil

Posted by: L. Ian - Minneapolis
on: 2023-05-11 00:49:55

I saw many of these plants in the Mississippi River Gorge Oak Savanna Restoration this spring!

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