Overview
Sanicula odorata is an upright woodland perennial in the carrot family growing 16-40 inches (40-100 cm) tall on smooth, branching, green stems. The basal and lower stem leaves are palmately divided into five toothed, lobed segments 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) wide, deep green and slightly glossy. From late spring into summer the plant carries small, greenish-yellow flowers gathered into tight, rounded clusters at the branch tips, each cluster holding both bisexual and male flowers. The flowers give way to small, round fruits about 0.2 inch (4-6 mm) wide covered in hooked bristles that catch on fur and clothing, spreading the seed. S. odorata grows in moist deciduous woods, floodplains, and shaded ravines across eastern and central North America. It forms loose colonies in rich, leaf-littered soil and tolerates deep shade but needs steady moisture, fading in dry, sunny sites. Its flowers are inconspicuous, and it is grown mainly for woodland greenery and its role in shaded native plantings. It dies back to the ground over winter and returns from the root in spring.
Native Range
Sanicula odorata is native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and west to the Great Plains. It grows in moist deciduous forests, floodplains, ravines, and shaded streambanks.Suggested Uses
Sanicula odorata is used in shaded native and woodland gardens, naturalized plantings, and streamside restoration. Its divided foliage adds ground-level greenery beneath trees alongside ferns and wildflowers. The flowers feed small native pollinators, and the burs disperse on woodland animals.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'4" - 3'4"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing 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