05/23/2026
✨NEW SPECIES HIGHLIGHT!✨
Claspleaf Twistedstalk
Streptopus amplexifolius
This is a unique woodland species that loves to grow in damp places near seeps and creeks. As its name implies, it shoots up a ‘twisted’ zigzag stalk in spring that rises to a foot or two in height. And one of its defining features is that the leaves neatly clasp around the stem of the stalk where they meet, like a little hug. Individual white flowers dangle like teensy spiders below the stalk, which then ripen into beautiful oblong red fruit. These are also commonly called Watermelon Berry as they are edible and indeed have a watery-melonly flavor. (Always be careful with ID before you go snacking on wild red berries…some things are only edible once ☠️)
Twistedstalk are similar in appearance to some of our Prosartes species (Fairy bells/lanterns), which also rise a notch above the groundcover layer and sport red-orange berries after flowering. Many of our native woodland species bloom in the spring, so we love a plant that brings interest into the summer and fall by showing off colorful fruit! (We have both P smithii and P hookeri in stock, too)
We harvested the seed for these from a handful of berries back in late summer 2022. They were growing up along a creek in the foothills of Mt. Hood, about 8 miles east of our nursery. Like many members of its Lily family, this one is sloowwww to grow from seed! They look like a blade of grass for the first year or two. But now, in their 4th growing season, these little Streptopus babies are starting to form their twisted stalks and are ready to plant out in your woodland garden!
We also have a nice specimen one planted at our nursery that blooms and fruits, if you’d like to see one in person. It’s budded currently! We just planted out a few of these new babies so that we have more genetic diversity on site, too. But it’ll still be another year or two before they bloom. But they’re on their way! And for the low price of $7, you can take one home and cut off 4 years of the journey from seed to bloom in your garden 😉
Our availability list was just updated on our website, we have a great selection, come out and visit!