Oconee Bells is a rare wildflower in the Lindley family that is found in the Appalachian mountains of GA, NC and SC. It is found growing in shady conditions along stream banks, often where a disturbance has occurred. It spreads by short runners to cover an area and may have a toxic effect on surrounding vegetation. Single 1-inch white to pinkish blooms occurs in early spring. Bees will visit the flowers. In cultivation, this plant is used as a ground cover in a shade garden or a woodland setting. It may be slow to get established. It prefers partial shade and sandy or clay loams rich in humus. Once established it needs little care and provides year-round interest with the fall color change that lasts all winter. This plant was initially discovered in 1788 and then not found again for over a century despite searching for it. The genus name honors a 19th-century Kentucky botanist, Dr. Charles Wilkins Short. The common name comes from Oconee County in South Carolina. The plant is considered endangered and may not be collected in the wild. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1-3 inch oval to roundish shiny leaves on long stems with wavy toothed margins and a heart-shaped base and flat or slightly indented tip. Turn bronzey red in the fall.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1 in. white to pinkish nodding flowers on 3 to 6 in. stalk; five irregularly toothed petals. Blooms March-April.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
3-parted oval capsules that split to release seeds. Displays from July to August.