In early spring the star-like pink flowers of spring beauty carpet many moist, rich woodlands and sunny stream banks. Although individual flowers are small, only a half-inch across, their massed display is spectacular. The flowers, white to rose with red veins, are in loose racemes above a pair of opposite, narrow, fleshy leaves, 1-6 inches long, midway up the stem. This tiny ephemeral often sprawls on the forest floor, sending up as many as 15 blossoms from each underground stem.

The flowers of spring beauty, which may bloom for up to two weeks, open only in sunlight. Each is made up of two persistent green sepals, five petals, five stamens, and a three-lobed stigma. As the blooms fade, a 3-6-seeded capsule develops. Soon the above-ground parts disappear, leaving only a deep-seated underground stem or tuber. The common name fairy-spuds alludes to the tuber's resemblance to a miniature potato with many protruding eyes.