Yellow Clintonia

Clintonia borealis

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Secure (S5) in both Ontario and Quebec. Globally ranked G5, nationally N5 in both Canada and the United States. Not listed under SARA. Common throughout its range in the Outaouais region.
S22 S26 S63
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A characteristic herb of cool, moist northern forests, Clintonia borealis occupies the understory of coniferous, mixed, and deciduous woods across the Canadian Shield and Appalachian regions. In the Outaouais, specimens are recorded from sugar maple-beech stands, red maple-ironwood forests, and mixed oak-pine-beech woods on rocky outcrops. Locally common in both the Ottawa-Hull corridor and across the broader Gatineau region.
S6 S7 S48 S63

Roles: Fire Retardant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 5 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Category: Dermatological Aid, Disinfectant, Burn Dressing, Cardiac, Antidote, Gynecological Aid
S28 S29
Notes: Extensively used by Algonquin, Chippewa, Iroquois, Ojibwa, Menominee, and Potawatomi peoples. Leaf poultices applied to wounds, burns, ulcers, and infections by Algonquin and Chippewa. Iroquois used a decoction of the whole plant as a heart medicine and for diabetes. Ojibwa used root infusion to aid parturition. Leaves considered cardiac and disinfectant.
S28 S29

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: Young leaves may be eaten raw or cooked, with a slightly sweet cucumber flavour, harvested before they fully unfurl in spring. Older leaves used as a potherb. Not commonly consumed. Berries are very bitter and potentially toxic; should not be eaten.
S29 S46 S4