prairie wildflower
Lanceleaf Springbeauty
Claytonia lanceolata
Also known as Western Spring Beauty, Lanceleaf Spring Beauty, Spring Beauty, Indian Potato
1 of 2Native to the Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Southwest and southern Canada
British Columbia to southern California, east to Alberta and New Mexico
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moisture preference
- Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–Jul Flowering time
- Height up to 10 in to 25 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun. Its white and pink flowers peak in April. At up to 10 in, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Lanceleaf Springbeauty's white and pink flowers bloom March to July, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and flower flies.
Lanceleaf Springbeauty blooms white & pinkFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Two-form Bumble Bee, Orange-legged Furrow Bee +11 more
Confusing Furrow Bee, Blue Orchard Bee, Colorado Mason, Lupine Miner Bee, Black-haired Miner Bee, Willow Flower Miner Bee, Merriam's Miner Bee, Joker Miner Bee, Blue-and-black Mining Bee, Dimple-cheeked Miner Bee, Comma Sweat Bee - Flower flies Greater Bee Fly also Large-tailed Aphideater, Tawny-haired Blacklet, Eupeodes lapponicus
- Butterflies Painted Lady also Checkered White, Western Green Hairstreak, Julia Orangetip
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Checkered whitenectar
- Painted ladynectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Southwest and southern CanadaUnited States (10): CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY. Canada (2): AB, BC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- British Columbia to southern California, east to Alberta and New MexicoThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9 · Canadian 0–8The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Spring-moist soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- AcidicThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 10 in (to 25 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens May–AugThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.