Streptopus streptopoides aka Small Twistedstalk

Streptopus streptopoides has the common name small twistedstalk. It belongs to Liliaceae, the lily family. This plant lives for years in cool, temperate lands. It grows from rhizomes, which are stems beneath the soil. Its native range runs from Siberia to northern Japan. It also spans southern Alaska and northwestern North America. Records name Alberta and British Columbia, plus Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant grows about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. Its small size suits a woodland garden’s low layer. In the wild, it grows in dense conifer woods. There, it lives at middle elevations. It also grows in damp woods and beside rivers. Other sites include ground among alders. These sites point to a plant of cool, sheltered ground. The sources give no spread for a full-grown plant. They give no leaf details either.

Plants For A Future gives July to August as bloom time. Each flower has both male and female organs. The plant bears orange-red berries. Each measures about 0.02 feet [0.006 metres] across. Plants For A Future lists these fruits as food. You can eat them raw or cooked. The source says they taste like watermelon. It also lists young leaves and shoots as food. You can eat these raw or cooked, too. They taste like cucumber. The source reports no known hazards. But it gives no full safety review.

Grow this plant in cool soil rich in leaf matter. It needs moist soil and suits sand or loam. Plants For A Future lists soils with a mild acid level. It also lists neutral soils and those with a mild alkaline level. It reports growth in full or part shade. Its garden notes favour dappled shade over deep shade. They also favour shaded woodland edges. The source gives USDA zones 3–7. It gives hardiness to at least −20°C. A moist woodland bed meets its stated needs.

Growing it from seed takes time, not quick work. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame when ripe in summer. Stored seed may take 18 months or more to sprout. Once seedlings grow large enough, give each its own pot. Keep them in shade. Wait at least two growing seasons before planting them out. The source suggests this move during autumn dormancy, the plant’s rest. You can also divide plants as growth starts in early spring. Plant large divisions straight into their final sites. Plants For A Future lists no known medicinal or other uses. It also records no weed potential.