Bellwort

About Bellwort

Large-flowered Bellwort is one of the most enchanting sights of the spring woodland, featuring gracefully drooping, bright yellow blossoms. Each bell-shaped flower hangs from the tip of a forked stem, surrounded by perfoliate leaves that appear to be pierced by the stem itself. This clump-forming perennial typically grows 12 to 24 inches tall and spreads slowly via rhizomes to form beautiful colonies. It is native to the rich deciduous forests of eastern North America, where it thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils. The nectar-rich flowers are a primary food source for early-emerging queen bumblebees and other native pollinators. While it is a rewarding plant to grow, it is known for being somewhat difficult to start from seed, often requiring multiple seasons of cold stratification. However, once established, it is a long-lived and reliable spring ephemeral that brings light and life to the shaded garden.