pickup icon

Close up of the white with pink candy-striped flowers of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery, in Portland, Oregon.
Close up of bud and leaves of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery, in Portland, Oregon.
A flat of 4" pots of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) in full floral display. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of candyflower or miner's lettuce plant in flower (Claytonia sibirica). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery, in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of candyflower or miner's lettuce plant in flower (Claytonia sibirica). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery, in Portland, Oregon.
A blooming population of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) in a habitat garden. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A blooming population of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) in the wild. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A blooming population of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) with companion plants in the wild. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native wildflowers, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Candyflower

Claytonia sibirica

Candyflower, also known as miner’s lettuce, is a native groundcover with white to pink candy-striped flowers and dark green, semi-succulent, edible leaves. It grows as an annual or short-lived perennial, but will reseed readily, forming lush, self-sustaining patches of groundcover in woodland gardens. It puts on an impressive show of adorable blooms; occasionally beginning in mild winter months, coming into full force by spring and holding through summer. 

  • Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous, annual or short-lived perennial, herbaceous plant
  • Size at maturity: 0-12" tall, spreading by seed to form a groundcover
  • Light requirements: part sun to full shade
  • Moisture requirements: moist soil, prefers well-drained
  • Bloom time: January - September (May - August in the Portland Metro area)
  • Growth rate/ease: fast growing, easy to grow
  • Wildlife support: flowers attract and support bees and other insect pollinators
  • Native habitat/range: common in moist places, swamps, seeps and streambanks in forests and wet meadows, from the coast up to 2000m, across the Pacific Northwest - but not in the arid areas of central Washington and Oregon. Portland Plant List - yes. 
  • Special features & uses: groundcover; leaves are edible raw in salads and as a sauteed green; landscape uses include woodland gardens and shady raingardens  

What to Expect + Gardening with Candyflower: This succulent groundcover requires most to entirely shady areas with moist, well-drained soil. It combines beautifully with ferns, wild ginger and false Solomon’s seal and will spread by seed to for a self-sufficient, charming addition to woodland gardens, streambanks, and shady raingardens.    

Photo Credit 1 -3 (flower closeup, leaf/bud, nursery flat): Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

Photo Credit 4 (red stems): © sugarsnap_t, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 5 (three close flowers): © David Dyck, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 6 (in a habitat garden): Karli Del Biondo, Beetles and Bees

Photo Credit (wild flowering plants): © Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit (with companions): © lesleytotten, some rights reserved (CC-BY)