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Close up of the white with pink candy-striped flowers of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants 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 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A close-up of one small candyflower or miner's lettuce plant (Claytonia sibirica) just about to bloom. One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
White-flowering candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A blooming population of candyflower or miner's lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) in the habitat garden. One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants 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: Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

Photo Credit 4: "20170529_6626 Claytonia sibirica" by chipmunk_1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo Credit 5: Karli Del Biondo, Beetles and Bees


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