Hydrophyllum virginianum
Virginia waterleaf
Overview
Hydrophyllum virginianum is a spreading herbaceous perennial of eastern North American woodlands, growing 1-2.5 feet (30-75 cm) tall from creeping rhizomes. The leaves are pinnately divided into five to seven sharply toothed segments and often carry pale greenish-white blotches that look like water stains, the source of the common name. In late spring to early summer the plant raises coiled clusters of bell-shaped flowers above the foliage, each flower about 0.3 inch (8 mm) long, white to pale lavender, with stamens that project well beyond the petals. The flowers draw bees and other early-season pollinators. H. virginianum spreads by rhizomes to form colonies on moist, rich forest floors, often growing alongside spring ephemerals. The foliage emerges early, can carpet the ground through spring, and frequently dies back by midsummer in drier sites. Young leaves and shoots are edible when cooked. It tolerates deep shade but declines in dry or compacted soil. Plants self-seed and can spread beyond their original planting in favorable woodland conditions.
Native Range
Hydrophyllum virginianum is native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Manitoba south to Georgia and Oklahoma. It grows in moist deciduous woods, floodplains, and shaded ravines.Suggested Uses
H. virginianum is used as a groundcover in shade and woodland gardens, in native-plant borders, and along moist, shaded paths. It suits naturalized plantings with spring ephemerals and ferns. Plants are spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'6"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
H. virginianum blooms from May to June. The flowers open from coiled cyme clusters, white to pale purple, over three to four weeks. After flowering the foliage often yellows and dies back where soil dries in summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to lavenderFoliage Description
green with pale water-stain blotchesGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 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
H. virginianum grows in part to full shade and needs consistently moist, humus-rich soil. It tolerates clay and seasonal wetness but declines in dry or compacted ground. Water needs are moderate to high, especially as the plant leafs out in spring. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it overwinters as dormant rhizomes. The foliage may go summer-dormant in dry sites, returning the following spring. Plants spread by rhizome and seed and fill in to form a groundcover in suitable woodland.Pruning
H. virginianum needs no pruning. Spent flower stems and yellowing summer foliage can be cut back as the plant goes dormant. Seed heads may be removed before ripening to limit self-sowing.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons