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Transplanting Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty)

19 years ago

I found this in a site that may be developed, so I dug some of it up. I didn't get any soil around the roots (all the soil fell off) and I think I may have injured the tip of the root. Currently, I have it in a cup of water.

I can get more it this if it doesn't make it.

How should I transplant this?

Here is a link that might be useful: My photo

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Comments (7)

Lynda Waldrep
19 years ago
Of course plant it. If nothing else, those flowers will probably set seed, and these plants selfsow easily and will really multiply. I find them coming up in places I never planted them, and it is a delight to see them in the springtime. I would also go back and try to get an entire plant IF you have permission. I am not in favor of trespassing even tho' it hurts to see development destroy plants. If you get permission, you will probably find other "goodies" in what is apparently a moist location. Good luck.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
19 years ago
What you should find at the bottom of the weak spindly stem that may run thisaway and thataway underground is a small bulb. That one bulb may put up flower stems that are 3-6 inches apart when they come through the ground...unlike 2 daffodils that come from one bulb that has split in two. I dug several this spring, and they were all blooming sized. Some of the bulbs were as small as a pea (though they flowered) and ranged in size up to the size of a marble.

Dig lots of soil, and then very carefully look through it, following the stems, to see if indeed you got the bulb itself. It also helps to dig when the soil is good and moist.

Sue
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laogooli
Original Author
19 years ago
Hmm... I think I broke the stem; I don't see any bulbs...
I'll plant it outside and see what happens.
laogooli
Original Author
19 years ago
Do seedlings of this also form bulbs?
The "root" is a few inches long and tapers down to about half a millimeter. The plant came up without much resistance when I dug around it, so I may have broken the stem...
I'll try to request permission and get some more. There were some other interesting plants, too.
User
19 years ago
The bulblets in my area are six to eight inches below the surface making it somewhat hard to dig.
shadeyplace
19 years ago
They are like trout lillies...you haved to dig WAY down to get the bulb...WAY down..and as said above these stems are very fragile. I have found they do not like to be moved some take and some do not but certainly go back and get as many as you can if they are going to be destroyed. Take a long headed spade. You will probably find more things like spring cress and other nice little widlflowers...take them all!
waplummer
19 years ago
I have a a patch that is at least a square yard with some growing in my path. I dug these strays and replanted them in my lawn. It will be interesting to see next year how they have spread. I will probably add to them next spring.

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