Family
Liliaceae
Botanical Name
ALETRIS lutea
Plant Common Name
Colicroot, Yellow Colicroot
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
An ankle- to shin-high flower stem carrying bright yellow blossoms above a foliage rosette is indicating of the yellow colicroot. This herbaceous perennial is native to the American Southeast, from Savannah, Georgia to New Orleans and south to the Florida Keys. It naturally grows in pinelands, bogs, wet ditches and seasonally flooded prairies.
The leaves arise from the ground to create a basal rosette of attractive light green leaves. Leaf blades are narrow, pointed lances with parallel veins, revealing its common bond to members of the lily family. Flowering begins as early as the vernal equinox, but possibly delayed until mid- to late spring. A thin, upright flowering stem (called a scape) juts up from the rosette center. In the upper third of the scape, tiny tubular lemon yellow (rarely pale white-yellow) flowers open from the bottom up in the spike. Each blossom looks mealy and there are six tiny lobes. In fact, the genus name Aletris comes from the Greek word, which means "miller of corn."
Although not usually grown in contrived gardens, conserve a stand of yellow colicroot on your property. The plants prosper in moist to wet sandy soils that have some organic matter and are acidic in pH. Use this wildflower as a vertical companion to pitcher plants or Venus flytraps in a bog garden.
Compared to the golden colicroot (Aletris aurea), yellow colicroot has a significantly shorter flower scape, longer and more tubular blossoms, and blooms earlier. Up until the 19th century, roots of these plants were dug up and used as medicine to treat colic.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 5
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 12
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
5"-12" / 12.7cm - 30.5cm
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Width
4"-7" / 10.2cm - 17.8cm
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring
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Native To
United States, Southeastern United States
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic
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Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
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Soil type
Sand
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Rosette/Stemless
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Seasonal Interest
Spring
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Light Yellow, Lemon Yellow
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Light Green, Yellow Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Bog Garden, Wildflower
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes
