I’m very interested in Claytonia virginica as a perennial crop plant and working with it to improve the tuber size.
I’ve only found it mentioned here within other conversations so I’m making this to have one discussion around anyone already working with it or any potential sources for already selected and improved populations.
I’m currently keeping an eye out for any local populations near me. I know I have seen the flowers before but was not aware of it’s potential as a crop plant.
I’m really surprised this is not being used more.
It seems like the exact type plant to find somewhere like Cultivariable.
So far I have not found anyone working with it and not even anyone selling tubers, only seeds.
There’s a lot of videos on it but this is the one that I recently watched and inspired me:
The part where he talks about identifying the plants with larger tubers and the potential for improvement is especially interesting.
I’ve had other Claytonia species on my wish list for a number of years without luck getting seed on my side of the pond. I grow C. perfoliata and C. sibirica. The latter one is reliably perennial for me or at least creates permanent populations in good spots (they seem to like moist soil with organic matter as well as some shade to not have too much competition).
The relationships between the species are taxonomically unclear and the whole genus is both plastic (in movement) and with lots of genetic diversity within species. I’m not sure where C. virginica is placed in the genus, but I would go look for closely related species for possible crosses. Claytonia tuberosa could be one such example. Claytonia caroliniana is supposed to darker and more purple roots with a more refined taste than virginica.
I’ve been interested in using Claytonia species as a “vernal dam” - recirculating nutrients over winter and early spring, so they don’t go to waste.
I’ve used Tommy Stoughton’s website as a reference for learning more about this genus: https://claytonia.org
