| Where the garden meets the wild | ||
| STREPTOPUS TWISTED-STALK Liliaceae (Lily family) / Calochortaceae (Calochortus family) | ||
| Return to Plants Index Bulbs Index | ||
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Streptopus amplexifolius, showing the kinked stem, or peduncle, of the berries. Photograph © Paige Woodward |
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| These graceful and hardy rhizomatous lilies, cousin to Polygonatum, Disporum and Prosartes, have bell-like flowers in June-July that nod from the leaf axils in a row down the stem. The jewel-like oval berries that follow are favored by many birds. Twisted-stalks are adapted to montane streambanks and seepages, deep dappled shade and conifer duff. They don't seem to object to garden loam. | ||
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Photographs © Paige Woodward |
Streptopus
amplexifolius var. chalazatus Fassett. Clasping
twisted-stalk. This handsome shade lover has
branched stems, clasping leaves and slightly recurved bell flowers that
are greenish white without and often maroon-rose within. They dangle on kinked stems or peduncles,
and are succeeded by berries that start out yellow or red and
ripen to plum-purple. The species is circumboreal; var. chalazatus has
hairless stems and smooth leaf margins and is found from Alaska to Alberta
and south in the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. Our plants are from seeds
collected on the shaded banks of two rivers and a creek in British Columbia: the
Chilliwack, the Raft and the Clanninick. Height 30-90 cm (1-3'). Zone 5. Rhizome (fall shipping only). $8.00 |
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Streptopus roseus var. curvipes (Vail) Fassett. Rosy twisted-stalk; Rose mandarin. A very choice plant for shade. Rose-pink bells dangle on unkinked peduncles; the berries are scarlet. Our plants do not branch, though some are reported to do so. Native from Alaska to Oregon and E in British Columbia to the Rockies. Height 20 cm (8"). Zone 5. Rhizome (fall shipping only). $8.00 |
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| This page was updated April 5, 2008. | ||
