Indian cucumber root.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Perennial

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Indoor light

Medium light

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

1 to 2 feet

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 8

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural woodland habitat. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much. It prefers cool, shaded spots with plenty of organic matter.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly damp but not waterlogged.

Feeding

Apply a light layer of compost in early spring.

Pruning

Remove dead foliage after the plant goes dormant in autumn.

Repotting

Only repot if the plant becomes severely root bound.

Soil

Rich, acidic, moist soil

Soil pH

Acidic

Temperature

-30 to 25°C

Humidity

60 to 90%

Safety

People

There are no significant reports of toxicity, but it is not considered a common food source.

Children

The dark berries may look tempting to children, so it is best to supervise them in areas where this plant grows.

Contact allergens

No specific skin irritants are known.

Airborne allergens

Pollen is not typically considered a significant allergen.

Edibility

While the roots were historically eaten by indigenous peoples, wild harvesting is discouraged due to the plant's slow growth and ecological sensitivity.

How to identify it

• Two whorls of lance shaped leaves
• Small greenish yellow flowers
• Dark purple to black berries
• Crisp white edible tuberous root

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.15 to 0.3m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, green, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

dark purple, Late summer

Problems to watch for

• Fungal leaf spot · Occurs during periods of high humidity and poor air circulation.

Growing it

Propagation

seed, division

When to plant

spring, autumn

Plant in groups with other woodland ephemerals to mimic a natural forest floor.

Grows well with

• Trillium · They share the same woodland habitat requirements.
• Wild Ginger · It acts as a great groundcover companion in shade.

Similar species

• Starflower · It shares a similar woodland habit and leaf structure.

Science

Family

Liliaceae

Genus

Medeola

Order

Liliales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Eastern North America

Conservation

It is not currently endangered, but it is a slow growing woodland plant that should not be collected from the wild.

It grows in moist, acidic woodland soils where it relies on forest canopy for shade.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, bird food

Pollinators

bees

Uses

woodland garden, native plant restoration

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

No, it thrives in partial to full shade.

Is it easy to grow in a garden?

It can be tricky as it requires specific woodland soil conditions.

Where the name comes from

The name Medeola refers to the sorceress Medea, while virginiana indicates its origin in Virginia.

Good to know

• It is commonly called Indian cucumber root because the rhizome tastes like a cucumber.
• The plant features two distinct whorls of leaves on mature flowering stems.
• It is a member of the lily family.
• It prefers the dappled shade of deciduous forests.

Also in

• Plants for shade