History of Oconee Bells
The Oconee Bells (Shortia galicifolia), or the Acony Bells, are considered the rarest Spring ephemeral in the United States. They are a native, endemic species to the southern Appalachian Mountains. Their core distribution can be found in only three states: South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The common name for this plant is named after Oconee County in South Carolina. It was initially found and recorded by André Michaux, a French botanist, in 1788 near the headwaters of the Keowee River. For almost 100 years, this unnamed specimen was stored in a French herbarium until a young man found the plants growing near Marion, North Carolina. Asa Gray, an American botanist, met with the North Carolinian who rediscovered the plant in 1877 growing along the Catawba River. Asa gave this plant its scientific name as an homage to another American botanist, Charles W. Short. Long before botanists found and classified these plants, the Cherokee people called them “Shee-Show.” Meaning the ‘two-colored plants of the gods.’ It is believed that the tribe once made annual pilgrimages to the Jocassee Gorges area to collect the flowers, which were thought to be a rain talisman because they grew at the water’s edge.
Oconee Bells flowers (Shortia galicifolia) at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens.
Julia Nichols ©2025 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Botanical Features & Habitat
Oconee Bells bloom from mid-March to the beginning of April in the Upstate of South Carolina. They can be found along streams on heavily shaded, moist banks and rocky outcrops. They thrive in organically rich and acidic loamy soils. An evergreen, herbaceous perennial plant known for its round leaves and scalloped bell-shaped white, occasionally pale pink, flowers. Their leaves are pinnately veined and turn bronze in the Winter due to freezing temperatures. Their leaves can be used for identification when they are not in bloom and are pretty distinctive. Oconee Bells are relatively small and low-growing plants. Their leaves stay close to the forest floor, while their flowers can stand 4-6 inches high. For information on Spring wildflower ecology, click here: An Ecology of Spring Wildflowers.
Oconee Bells leaves at the base of a tree trunk along a stream.
Julia Nichols ©2025 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Conservation Status & Threats
Forest clearing, logging, road building, and stream impoundment threaten Oconee Bell populations. These plants are federally protected and are endangered in North Carolina and Georgia. They are not to be collected from the wild. Samples collected from Lake Jocassee during the lake’s building period can be found at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. They are indeed a stunning and unique sight to behold.
Oconee County’s BellFest
Friends of Jocassee, a non-profit organization, hosts BellFest each March at Devil’s Fork State Park. The event highlights these beautiful flowers and the importance of their preservation. The event has local artists, vendors, interpretative trail walks, and educational presentations. For more information on the event, visit http://www.friendsofjocassee.org.
Gorgeous salmon-colored sepals, known as the calyx collectively, delicately surround the bell-shaped flower.
Julia Nichols ©2025 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Additional Resources
NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Shortia galacifolia
Furman News Petal Prowess: Oconee Bell Wildflowers Might Be One Giant Organism
