Quite common perennial plant in the wild, but not so common in our yards. Forms nice bushy clumps of green leaves with thin flowering stalks above the leaves. Flowers are small, green-white, and generally insignificant. The reason why this native wildflower is good to use is its ground covering habit and the support it provides for wildlife. In good conditions it may self-seed too much and spread by rhizomes, so it is more suitable for some naturalizing in bigger gardens, woodland gardens, and woodland edges.
Nice plant companions are Woodland Asters, Heuchera, Polemonium reptans, Tradescantia, Tiarella, grasses like Diarrhena obovata, Hystris patula, Carex or smaller shrubs (Hydrangea quercifolia). Beautiful combinations can also be made with non-native perennials like Aquilegia, Alchemilla, Bergenia, Brunnera, Geranium, Hosta, Iris sibirica, Persicaria amplexicaulis, Polygonatum ‘Weihenstephan,’ etc.
Some colorful varieties have been bred and are slowly coming onto the market. The most famous is ‘Painter’s Palette,’ which has variegated leaves.
Blooming Time: July – SeptemberSize: 2-3’ high x 3-4’ wideUSDA Zones: 4 to 8Culture: half shade, light shade, dappled shade, with enough moisture it also grows in the sun. Average soil, loam, clay. Drought tolerant once establishedMoisture Needs: medium, medium-dry, medium-wetOrigin: northeastern United States; grows naturally in woodland edges, light forests, thickets, and along creeksDeer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yesAttracts Butterflies or Pollinators: butterfliesAttracts Hummingbirds: no, but attracts birdsPot Size: 3.5″ x 4″ perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)
