This bulb forming pereniial is found in mesic prairies and mesic savannas. While it is slow growing, it is particularily long lived. In mid-summer it sends up spikes of short lives, purple flowers. The basal foliage will shrivel up shortly afterwords It associates with Bromus kalmii, Coeopsis tripteris, and Euphorbia corollata in mesic praires, and with Actaea pachypoda, Allium canadense, and Carex rosea in savannas. The bulbs once served as a common food source for Native Americans.