Clayton Sweetroot
Osmorhiza claytonii
Last reviewed: August 2026
Clayton sweetroot is a woodland forb that blooms in May and June with small white flowers, favoring partly shaded sites with medium moisture in eastern and midwestern forests.
Toxicity unknown
Clayton Sweetroot (Osmorhiza claytonii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, flies, beetles
Before you buy
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Sweet cicely is a delicate woodland wildflower with feathery, fern-like foliage and small white flowers in late spring. This native perennial thrives in partial shade and forms modest clumps that blend well with other shade plants.
Growing Clayton Sweetroot
Grow Clayton Sweetroot in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Clayton Sweetroot takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Wispy appearance may look unintentional or weedy
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots
- Delicate structure lacks the formal presence HOAs typically prefer
Wildlife value
The small white flower clusters attract various pollinators including native bees, flies, and beetles during its May-June bloom period.
Common questions
- When does Clayton sweetroot bloom?
- Clayton sweetroot typically flowers from May through June, producing small white blossoms in loose, open clusters above fern-like foliage.
- What pollinators visit Clayton sweetroot?
- Bees, flies, and beetles commonly visit the small white flowers, moving among the shaded understory where the plant grows.
- What light and soil moisture does Clayton sweetroot need?
- It does best in part shade with medium soil moisture, similar to the dappled light and steady dampness of a deciduous forest floor.
- Does Clayton sweetroot stay green year round?
- No, it is deciduous. The foliage dies back in fall and the plant re-emerges from its roots the following spring.
- Is Clayton Sweetroot HOA-friendly?
- Clayton Sweetroot takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Clayton Sweetroot? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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