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What Unusual Woodland Plant is This?(photo)

13 years ago

I've been wanting to ask youall about this for a long time. This was given me long ago by local phenom Susan Dumaine, but even she couldn't remember what it was when last she visited! now that I finally have a photo of it, anyone know it?i love the fuzzy seed heads and the interesting foliage. Grows in shade, 15"H; clump has stayed same size for yrs.

thanks much yet again!,

mindy
{{gwi:266702}}From 2010-08-17

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Comments (5)

MissMyGardens
13 years ago
Some form of Tiarella? Looks like a straight species instead of one of the hybridized versions. Beautiful foliage.
tlacuache
13 years ago
I'm not certain, but from the photograph I think it looks like a waterleaf, genus Hydrophyllum. They're a group of native woodland wildflowers that grow in average-to-moist, shady situations across much of North America. Hydrophyllum virginianum is the common species in the East, but there are others. Assuming that is it, though, I'm a little surprised that it has "stayed the same size for years." Waterleaf doesn't spread fastÂcertainly not invasivelyÂbut they do usually creep slowly by rhizomes, and ones I have grown have tended to gradually expand their clumps over the years. Anyway, I think that's it. I've linked below to some images from the 'net. See what you think. I hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum) photos
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Rb, thanks for the ID...went to the link,and it sure looks like the plants that I have, since I cant ever recall seeing the flowers before ,I will assume they dont last long, but I do remember seeing the leafs before and they are kind of neat just by themselves..tnx... here is a picture of just the leaf all by itself...Tom Here is a link that might be useful:
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the_plant_geek
13 years ago
Definitely not a Tiarella, and I would concur that it is a Hydrophyllum species. It gets the name waterleaf from silver markings in spring that look like watermarks on the foliage. H. virginianum can spread quickly once a colony gets established, but it makes a nice groundcover for the shade/woodland garden. Much nicer than something like Aegopodium IMO.

The Plant Geek
www.confessionsofaplantgeek.blogspot.com
arbo_retum
Original Author
13 years ago
geek, we do not speak the A word around here;the prettiest plant evil we know.
best,
mindy
arbo_retum
Original Author
13 years ago
tlacua,
you is wonderful! from my perusal of your link, it seems to be virg. But I want to trade it in for those great speckled leaves of macrophylum!!! i know it has spread, but not v. much, surprisingly i guess, for being on the edge of a moist area.
i have wanted to know this for YEARS!!!
thanks so much to you all. The combined knowledge on this board is really something, and so very helpful.
best,
mindy
p.s. i was remembering that it does have that silvery variegation in spring, and it reminded me of the fact that pachysandra procumbens has that same type of variegatn in spring. and all this led me to wonder WHY some plants emerge variegated and then lose it. there must be some scientific darwinian reason, but then again i am not science adept.i'm just questioning adept. maybe the plant thinks pollinators are drawn to variegation............but what effort is involved with the plant being variegated such that it would want to abandon that effort after the pollinating time has passed.............

i think i should be out watering

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