Bloomipedia
Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)
Photo: Annie Evankow via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bluebead lily

Clintonia borealis

Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis) is a flowering plant in the Liliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Bluebead lily is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

21states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
23,811U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wisconsin

Quick look

Clintonia borealis is a species of flowering plant in the lily family. The specific epithet borealis means "of the north," which alludes to the fact that the species tends to thrive in the boreal forests of eastern Canada and northeastern United States. It is commonly known as bluebead, blue bead-lily, or yellow clintonia.

  • It belongs to the Liliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 21 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. NatureServe
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.1 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 4,572 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #5 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,415 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #8 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,054 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #11 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,345 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New HampshireNativeMay–July4,572
VermontNativeMay–June3,415
MaineNativeMay–June3,054
MinnesotaNativeMay–June2,796
MichiganNativeMay–June2,719
WisconsinNativeMay–June1,696

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 6 of our 6 states.
See each state
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (SH), IN (S1), MD (S2), OH (S1), TN (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: fruits. Symptoms they list: “This plant CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. No cases are known. Poisonous through ingestion. Poisonous parts are suspected to be the berries.” They also note: “Young leaves are chopped and added to salads, or boiled for 10 minutes and served with butter and seasonings. Sour flavor.” NC State Extension

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Blue Bead” (Clintonia borealis) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bluebead lily in 21 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Bluebead lily a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 6.8 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.0 to 6.8
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
90
Annual precipitation range
32 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
8 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CLBO3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Dracaena borealis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 325 counties across 19 states; the most are in Michigan (60), Wisconsin (53), New York (40).

Other Clintonia on Bloomipedia (1): Bride's bonnet.

More from the Liliaceae family (32 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yellow trout lily, Cucumber root, White fawnlily, Checker lily, White globe lily, Glacier lily, Yellow mariposa lily, Tolmie's pussy ears.

More New Hampshire flowers

Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum)

Yellow trout lily

Erythronium americanum

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: April–May
Canada lily (Lilium canadense)

Canada lily

Lilium canadense

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: June–July
Garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)

Garden tulip

Tulipa gesneriana

🌷 Garden flower

🌷 Grown in New Hampshire gardens

Sources