Queen's Cup is a herbaceous perennial, flowering plant in the lily family native to the mountainous regions of western North America. It has one (sometimes two) showy six-petaled white flower atop a 10 inch high stalk rising from a clump of large blade-shaped green leaves. The plants slowly spread by underground rhizomes or can be propagated by division or by seed.The genus is named in honor of the former governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828). The species name means "one-flowered", a characteristic that distinguishes this species from others in the genus. Queen's Cup does best grown in partial to full shade in organically rich, acidic, moist soils. It's native environment is the cool, mid-elevation, forests of the west. It does not do well in heat and will decline when temperatures rise above 75 degrees F. It can be propagated by root division in the spring or by seed though seeding plants can take up to four years before they flower. Queen's Cup is the smallest of the Clintonia species at 10 inches high. The plant produces an extensive system of underground stems causing it to spread and, with time, developing as a ground cover. It is also used as an ornamental in some gardens. Bees will suck nectar or collect pollen from Queen's Cup flowers; flies and beetles as well feed on pollen and nectar. Short-tongued bees and flies are usually non-pollinating. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: The plant can suffer damage from slugs.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Rosettes of 2 to 3 oblong, glossy-green leaves, up to 8 inches in height and 3 inches wide, bear short flowering stalks with one or two white flowers.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
One (rarely two) white, star-like flower blooms on a short leafless stalk rising from a basal cluster of 2 or 3 leaves.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Each flower is followed by a single, amethyst-blue berry.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Alaska, Canada, South to California
Wildlife value
Ruffled grouse are attracted to the fruits.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Shade Garden
Garden tags
#flowers late spring #flowers early summer #showy flowers #flowers mid-summer #white flowers #blue fruits #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #heavy shade tolerant #glossy leaves #wildflower
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants; Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage