Montia spathulata - Pale Spring Beauty

Family:	Portulacaceae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.08
Synonyms:	Claytonia exigua.
Range:	Western N. America - British Columbia southwards.

Montia spathulata (Pale Spring Beauty) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.08m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Pale Spring Beauty will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Pale Spring Beauty prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Pale Spring Beauty can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Dry to moist slopes[60].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location

Cultivation Details

We have almost no information on this species but judging by its native range it should be possible to grow it as a hardy annual in Britain. It is closely allied to M. perfoliata (a species that is naturalized in Britain) and probably has the same cultivation requirements as listed below. Prefers a moist peaty soil[1, 60]. Plants can succeed on very poor and dry soils and in the shade of trees[52, 60].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 105, 257]. Succulent[177].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates rapidly.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Hitchcock. C. L.
Author: Hitchcock. C. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1955

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