Large-flowered Bellwort

Large-flowered Bellwort

Uvularia grandiflora

Plant Type
Wildflower (Deciduous)
Landscape Layer
Herbaceous Layer
Sun
⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
Moisture
💧 Regular
Soil
Loam, Sand, Calcareous
Bloom
April, May, June
Sociability
S2 – Small groups

Pollinator Value

🐝 Specialist Bee Host
Andrena uvulariae

S17 Andrena (Derandrena) uvulariae specialist on Uvularia

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
Globally secure (G5) with national rank N5 in both Canada and the US. Secure in Ontario (S5) and apparently secure in Quebec (S4). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Populations can decline locally due to deer overbrowsing, habitat destruction, and invasive species such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

S22 G5, N5, S5/S4; S26 not SARA listed; S10 deer browsing and garlic mustard threats

Rarity Ranks
QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration
Stable
Ecological Context
A characteristic indicator of intact, rich deciduous forest ground flora. Found in mesic sugar maple (Acer saccharum) forests, beech-maple woodlands, wooded slopes, and floodplain forests on calcareous to neutral soils. In the Gatineau area, herbarium specimens document it in mature sugar maple forests on rocky substrates alongside Trillium grandiflorum, Caulophyllum giganteum, Erythronium americanum, and Sanguinaria canadensis.

S10 presence indicates original ground flora intact; S7 rich deciduous forests; S29 calcareous to neutral soils; S48 Gatineau Park specimens in mesic Acer saccharum forest

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles
Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 13 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Notes
An excellent woodland guild component, thriving under sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) canopy. Pairs naturally with other spring-blooming mesic forest herbs. The slow rhizomatous spread creates stable groundcover that complements trilliums and other spring ephemerals without competing aggressively.

S29 woodland garden; S7 beech-maple forest associates; S46 slow rhizome spread; S10 mesic woodland indicator

Medicinal Properties

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category
Analgesic, Dermatological Aid, Gastrointestinal Aid, Pulmonary Aid, Orthopedic Aid

S28 Moerman categories from Menominee, Ojibwa, Potawatomi uses

Notes
Root used extensively in Indigenous medicine. The Potawatomi prepared an infusion of the root for backaches, and mixed it with lard as a salve for sore muscles and tendons. The Ojibwa used the root for stomach pain and possible pleurisy. The Menominee applied the plant for swellings. PFAF rates medicinal value at 3 out of 5, noting use as a poultice or salve for toothaches, boils, wounds, and ulcers.

S28 Menominee, Ojibwa, Potawatomi uses; S29 Medicinal Rating 3/5, poultice/salve applications

Edibility & Foraging

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes
No edible uses documented. Moerman's Native American Ethnobotanical Database records only medicinal (Drug) uses for this species. PFAF rates edibility at 0 out of 5.

S28 7 Drug uses, 0 Food; S29 Edibility Rating 0/5

Seed Source

  • Akène
  • Akene
  • OWSL
Large-flowered Bellwort