Fairywand
Chamaelirium luteum
Melanthiaceae


Landscape Uses:

Woodland gardens, natural gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Deciduous wildflower with semievergreen basal leaves and a tuberous rootstock. Small, showy white flowers on a stalk, fading to yellowish.
Height:
Typically 2-4 feet in height.
Growth Rate:
Range:
Scattered in eastern North America south to Volusia, Marion, and Hillsborough counties.
Habitats:
Flatwoods and bluffs
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
White
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Small pods
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Need male and female plants to produce seeds. Can be difficult to establish.
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.