Japanese name: ツバメオモト（燕万年青） Scientific name:Clintonia udensis
[Overview]
A perennial found mostly in subalpine coniferous forests.
It has a short rhizome.
Two to five leaves grow from the base, oblong, 15–30 cm long, slightly thick and soft.
The leaf margins are at first covered with soft hairs, but later become hairless.
The flower stalk grows 20–30 cm tall and bears several flowers sparsely.
The flowers are white with 6 petals; the petals are oblong, 1–1.5 cm long.
There are 6 stamens, shorter than the petals.
The tip of the style is 3-lobed.
The flower stalks are 1–2 cm long.
The fruit is a spherical berry about 1 cm in diameter, ripening to indigo blue.
At the fruiting stage the flower stalk grows to 40–70 cm tall, and the fruit stalks become 3–6 cm long.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Grow it in bright shade throughout the year, or in a well-ventilated place that is sunny from autumn to spring and partially shaded in summer.
When planting in the ground, it is best to plant it under deciduous trees.
It prefers well-drained soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues and the soil dries out.
In warm regions, water in summer during the cooler hours of the day so that it does not become hot and humid.
In spring and autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil, and make sure no fertilizer remains in summer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
