Fairy-Wand is an herbaceous perennial wildflower of eastern North America in the trillium family (Melanthiaceae). It has separate male and female plants with the male flowers being larger and the spike often curved downward from the tip. It is found in rich woods, wet savannas, and moist meadows, slopes, and thickets. Preference is for organically rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. Plants have become rare in many parts of its habitat and should not be collected from the wild. Propagation is by seed or division of the rhizomes. Plats are dioecious and therefore a male and a female plant are needed to produce a seed. Use in woodland gardens, naturalized areas and native gardens
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-8 in. basal leaves are smooth, narrow, spoon-shaped and form a rosette. Stem leaves are smaller.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, white flowers are tightly clustered on a 4-8 inch long spike or raceme at the end of an 8-18 in. stem. Male and female flowers on separate plants with male raceme being larger with tips curving downward. Flowers bloom March-May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
3-valved, ellipsoid capsules. Fruit is available September-November.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Ontario to Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Attracts
Bees; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Rhizomes and roots are used to treat female issues