Species Colicroot
white flowers with burgundy anthers, yellow filaments, green stem and white buds

Colicroot

Aletris farinosa

Also Known As - White Colicroot,White Tubed Colicroot,Unicorn Root,White Stargrass
Colicroot (Aletris farinosa) is an attractive perennial native to North America. With a tall upright habit, colicroot produces small, tubular white flowers from April to midsummer. The lance-shaped, grass-like leaves also provide a delicate texture to the garden. Colicroot prefers moist to wet soils and full to part-sun conditions, and can even tolerate some shade. It is an excellent choice for sunny and moist forest clearings, native plant gardens, and wet meadows. It is a tough and hardy plant, and can withstand a variety of conditions.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

White/Cream Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Soil:

Sand

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Colicroot prefers soil that is consistently moist but not soggy. Water the plant when the soil begins to feel dry to the touch, about once a week. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. In hot and dry seasons, you may need to water twice a week. Avoid overwatering as this can result in root rot. In the winter, when the plant is dormant, reduce the frequency of waterings.

sunlight

Colicroot (Aletris farinosa) is a sun-loving plant species that prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It flourishes in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Colicroot will do well with full sun from 11 AM to 5 PM with intermittent shade or filtered sunlight throughout the morning and early afternoon. Avoid planting the Colicroot in a location with deep shade for lengthy periods of the day.

pruning

Colicroot should be pruned in late winter or early spring before any new growth appears. Prune off any leaves that are damaged, discolored, or diseased. Avoid cutting back more than a third of the total amount of stems at a time because this could shock the plant. Depending on the size of the plant, pruning could consist of cutting the plant back a few inches or more. If necessary, any dead areas or branches can be removed as well.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Colicroot typically starts flowering in April.