Jeffersonia spp.

Berberidaceae

Eastern North America and northeastern Asia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Jeffersonia spp. is a genus of two species of woodland perennials in the barberry family, Berberidaceae, named after Thomas Jefferson and known as twinleaf. J. diphylla grows in eastern North America and J. dubia (sometimes placed in Plagiorhegma spp.) in northeastern Asia. The common name comes from the leaves, each of which is deeply split into two mirror-image lobes that resemble a pair of wings or a butterfly. Plants form low clumps about 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm) tall, rising from short rhizomes. In early to mid spring, single cup-shaped flowers appear on leafless stalks, white in J. diphylla and lavender-blue in J. dubia, each with eight petals that drop quickly, often lasting only a day or two. The flowers are followed by a pear-shaped capsule that opens by a hinged lid. The genus grows in rich, moist, deciduous woodland on limestone-influenced soils in J. diphylla and in cooler montane woodland in J. dubia. The flowers are short-lived and the plants grow slowly, and they recover slowly from disturbance once established.

Native Range

Jeffersonia spp. has a disjunct distribution, with J. diphylla native to eastern North America and J. dubia native to northeastern Asia, including Korea, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East. Both grow in moist, shaded woodland.

Suggested Uses

Jeffersonia spp. is used in shade and woodland gardens, native plant collections, and shaded rock gardens. The paired leaves and early flowers suit the front of a shaded border or a woodland path. Plants combine with other spring woodland perennials such as trilliums and hepaticas.

How to Identify

Plants form low clumps of long-stalked leaves, each leaf split almost to the base into two mirror-image lobes that look like a pair of wings. In early spring, solitary cup-shaped flowers with eight petals open on leafless stalks, white in J. diphylla and lavender-blue in J. dubia. The paired leaf lobes and the pear-shaped seed capsule with a hinged lid identify Jeffersonia spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'6"

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in early to mid spring, roughly March to April, before or as the leaves expand. Each flower has eight white or lavender-blue petals and is short-lived, often lasting only a day or two in warm weather. Early bees and other insects visit the flowers for pollen.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green to blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 1-4 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Jeffersonia spp. grows in part to full shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained woodland soils, with J. diphylla growing on neutral to limy ground. The genus is hardy in roughly USDA zones 5 to 8 and dies back to the rhizome each winter, returning in early spring. Plants grow slowly and are long-lived once settled, forming larger clumps over many years. Steady moisture through spring and summer and a mulch of leaf litter suit the plants, which can scorch in dry, sunny sites. Propagation is by fresh seed, which needs a cold period to germinate, or by careful division in late summer.

Pruning

No regular pruning is needed beyond removing faded leaves and spent flower stalks. Tattered foliage can be cut away in late autumn after it dies down. Clumps are left undisturbed rather than divided often.