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Mitella breweri
Brewer's mitrewort
Overview
Mitella breweri is a low, clump-forming perennial in the saxifrage family, growing 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) tall in leaf with slender flowering stalks reaching 6-16 inches (15-40 cm). The leaves are basal, rounded to kidney-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) wide, with shallow lobes and scalloped margins, forming a low mat that spreads by short rhizomes to 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide. In late spring and early summer, thin leafless stalks rise above the foliage carrying many small greenish-yellow flowers, each about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across with five petals divided into narrow, comb-like segments that give the flower a feathery outline. The flowers are followed by small open capsules holding glossy black seeds. Foliage is semi-evergreen in mild winters and dies back where the ground freezes. The flowers are small and green, with little color contrast against the foliage. Spread is slow, and plants stay low to the ground.
Native Range
Native to moist coniferous forests, streambanks, and shaded slopes of western North America, from Alaska and British Columbia south through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to California and east into the northern Rocky Mountains. Grows at 2,000-10,000 feet (600-3,000 m) in cool, humus-rich soils.Suggested Uses
Planted as a groundcover in woodland gardens, shaded rock gardens, and along streamsides at 8-12 inch (20-30 cm) spacing. Suits cool, moist, shaded sites in native and naturalistic plantings. Low stature and small green flowers suit it to use as a foliage groundcover in shaded plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'4"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 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
Grows in part shade to full shade in cool, consistently moist, humus-rich soil. Performs poorly in hot, dry, or sunny positions, where leaf margins brown and plants decline. Water through dry summer periods to keep the soil moist. Spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a low mat without becoming invasive. Slugs may feed on young leaves in spring. Foliage is semi-evergreen in mild climates and dies back in hard winters.Pruning
Remove spent flower stalks after seed disperses to tidy the clump. Clear dead foliage in early spring before new leaves expand. No other routine pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summerearly spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons