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Tolmiea spp.
piggyback plant
Overview
Tolmiea is a genus of two herbaceous perennials in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, native to the moist coastal forests of western North America from Alaska to California. Plants form low, spreading mounds of hairy, maple-shaped leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) wide on long stalks, reaching 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall. The genus is known for producing young plantlets where the leaf blade meets its stalk; as the parent leaf bends to the ground, the plantlet roots and grows, giving the common names piggyback plant and youth-on-age. In late spring, slender stems carry small tubular flowers in chocolate-brown and greenish-purple, each splitting into thread-like segments. The two species, T. menziesii and T. diplomenziesii, differ in chromosome number and are hard to separate by eye. Plants spread by rhizomes and rooting plantlets to form a ground-covering colony in damp shade. The genus is widely grown indoors as a foliage houseplant. It needs constant moisture and cool shade, and the foliage scorches in dry air or direct sun.
Native Range
Native to the Pacific coast of North America, from southern Alaska through British Columbia and Washington to the redwood forests of northern California, in moist conifer and mixed woodland.Suggested Uses
Grown as ground cover in shaded, moist borders and woodland gardens, and widely kept as a foliage houseplant or in hanging containers where the plantlet-bearing leaves trail. Suited to terrariums and cool conservatories.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering takes place in late spring to early summer on upright stems held above the foliage. The small brown-and-green flowers are short and tubular and are pollinated by insects. Bloom is modest, and the genus is grown mainly for its foliage and plantlets.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
chocolate-brown and greenish-purpleFoliage 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in part to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil with a pH near 5.5 to 7.0. Steady moisture is needed year-round, as the leaves wilt and brown at the edges when dry. Outdoors the genus is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and stays evergreen in mild winters. Indoors it grows in cool rooms with bright indirect light and even watering, away from heat sources that dry the air. New plants are easily raised by pegging a plantlet-bearing leaf onto moist potting mix until it roots. Spider mites can appear on indoor plants in dry conditions.Pruning
Pruning is limited to removing yellowed or scorched leaves at the base. Spent flower stems can be cut once they fade. Crowded clumps can be lifted and divided in spring.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons