Fairy Wand

About Fairy Wand

Fairy-Wand is a native perennial wildflower of eastern North America. It has separate male and female plants with the male flowers being larger and the spike often curved downward from the tip. It is found in rich woods, wet savannas, moist meadows, slopes, and thickets. Preference is for organically rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Chamaelirium luteum

Genus

Chamaelirium

Family

Melanthiaceae

Order

Liliales

Also known as

devil's-bit, fairy-wand, fairywand, false unicorn, false unicorn-root, helonias, blazing-star and rattlesnake-root

How to care for Fairy Wand

💦 Water

How often to water your Fairy Wand

Fairy Wand needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Fairy Wand in your home

Fairy Wand may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Fairy Wand in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Fairy Wand

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Fairy Wand: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Fairy Wand after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Fairy Wand is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Fairy Wand →

Benefits of Growing Fairy Wand →

Common Fairy Wand Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Fairy Wand →

💦 Water Needs

Fairy Wand prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Fairy Wand Water Frequency →

Fairy Wand Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Fairy Wand may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Fairy Wand Light Requirements →

Fairy Wand Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Fairy Wand is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Fairy Wand Edible? →

Fairy Wand Toxicity to Cats →

Fairy Wand Toxicity to Dogs →

Fairy Wand Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Fairy Wand does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Fairy Wand →

Best Pots for Fairy Wand →

When and How to Successfully Repot Fairy Wand →

What Are Healthy Fairy Wand Roots →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Fairy Wand grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Fairy Wand Lifecycle →

Fairy Wand Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Fairy Wand →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Fairy Wand can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Fairy Wand Temperature Tolerance →

Fairy Wand Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Fairy Wand →

When to Plant Fairy Wand →

How to Plant Fairy Wand →

Where to Plant Fairy Wand →

Winter Care for Fairy Wand →

Best Companion Plants for Fairy Wand →

Is Fairy Wand a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Fairy Wand can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Fairy Wand →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Fairy Wand, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.