Plants of the genus are distributed across the temperate regions of North America and eastern Asia,[1][2] in the mesic understory of deciduous or coniferous forests.

[3] The genus, first described by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1818,[4] was named for DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), a naturalist and politician from the U.S. state of New York.

The blade of each leaf has a prominent central vein and entire margins, and the bottom ends are obovate to oblanceolate in shape.

[9][10][3] As of August 2020[update], Plants of the World Online (POWO) accepts the following species in the genus Clintonia Raf.

[11] Molecular phylogenetic studies demonstrate two major disjunct clades, in eastern Asia and in North America respectively, and with the latter in East and in West.

They grow best in cool, organic-rich, acid soils that retain moisture and when grown well form dense slowly spreading clumps.