Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

yellow colic-root

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Aletris lutea

Family:

Nartheciaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

4 ft tall by 0.5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Moist wildflower garden. As it is tall and thin, it's best planted as a group toward the rear of other plants.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed. If you manage to establish a patch, potentially vegetatively through division of the bulbs. This species is rarely, if ever, cultivated and its specific propagation requirements are not well known.



It has a reputation for being difficult to grow.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|----|----|----|----|- <------> |----|----|----|----|--

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Likely acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Pollinated by bumblebees and beeflies.

Native Habitats:

Open seepage areas, flatwoods, moist ditches.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: