Gillenia spp.
Bowman's root
Overview
Gillenia is a genus of two herbaceous perennials in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to eastern North America. Plants form upright, bushy clumps 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) tall and 1.5-3 feet (45-90 cm) wide on wiry reddish stems. The leaves are divided into three slender, sharply toothed leaflets 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long, dark green through summer and turning bronze-red in autumn. From late spring into midsummer the plants carry loose, airy sprays of white to pale pink flowers, each with five narrow, slightly twisted petals held in a small red-brown calyx that persists after the petals drop. G. trifoliata (Bowman's root) has nearly stalkless leaflets, while G. stipulata (American ipecac) bears leafy stipules. Both grow in open woodland, clearings, and on rocky slopes from Ontario and New York south to Georgia and Alabama. The genus tolerates a range of soils but needs steady moisture in full sun and is intolerant of prolonged drought; the slender stems can flop in rich ground or deep shade without support.
Native Range
Gillenia spp. is native to eastern North America, ranging from Ontario and New York south through the Appalachians to Georgia and Alabama. It grows in open deciduous woodland, forest clearings, and on rocky wooded slopes.Suggested Uses
Gillenia spp. is grown in woodland gardens, mixed borders, and native-plant and pollinator plantings, where its airy flowers combine with shrubs and coarser perennials. Its clumping habit suits the middle of a border or the edge of light woodland.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 4'
Width/Spread1'6" - 3'
Bloom Information
Gillenia spp. flowers from late spring into midsummer, generally May through July. The white to blush flowers are loosely scattered on branching stems, giving an airy, open look over several weeks. The red-brown calyces stay on the plant after the petals drop and remain through late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale pinkFoliage Description
dark green, bronze-red in autumnGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Gillenia spp. in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile, well-drained soil with an acidic to neutral pH. Keep the root zone evenly moist, as plants wilt and brown in extended drought. In full sun and lean soil the stems stay upright, while rich or shaded sites produce taller, floppier growth that may need support. Cut spent stems back in autumn or leave the seed heads for winter structure. Feeding is rarely needed in reasonable garden soil. Established clumps are hardy to about USDA zone 4.Pruning
Gillenia spp. needs little pruning. Cut the stems to the ground in late autumn or early spring, and divide congested clumps in spring to maintain vigor. Deadheading is not required, as the colored calyces extend interest after bloom.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons