1 / 10
© Warren Cardimona, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Tolmiea menziesii
piggy-back plant
Alaska south through BC, Washington, and Oregon
Learn more
Overview
Tolmiea menziesii is the piggy-back plant (youth-on-age), a native perennial growing 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) tall and wide. Hairy palmately lobed (5–7 shallow lobes) maple-like leaves 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) — plantlets develop at the junction of the leaf blade and petiole (the 'piggy-back' habit). The plantlet grows on the mother leaf, weighing it down until it contacts soil and roots — a vegetative reproduction method. Brownish-purple to chocolate inconspicuous tubular flowers 0.3 inch (8 mm) on slender stems 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) above the foliage in late spring to early summer. In the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). Near-monotypic: Tolmiea was recently split into two species — T. menziesii (diploid) and T. diplomenziesii (tetraploid) — but both share the piggy-back habit. Named after William Fraser Tolmie (1812–1886), Hudson's Bay Company surgeon and naturalist at Fort Nisqually, Washington. Also grown as a houseplant (the piggy-back habit is the novelty feature indoors). 'Taff's Gold' has gold-variegated foliage. Native to moist conifer forest understory, stream banks, and shaded moist slopes from Alaska south through BC, Washington, and Oregon. Consistent moisture. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Full shade to partial shade. Native. Zones 5–9. Growth rate is moderate.
Native Range
Native to Alaska south through BC, Washington, and Oregon, growing in moist conifer forest understory, stream banks, and shaded moist slopes.Suggested Uses
Grown as a native shade groundcover and houseplant in zones 5–9. The piggy-back leaf plantlets are the species feature. Consistent moisture. Also grown indoors. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Native.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Late spring to early summer (May–June) — brownish-purple inconspicuous tubular flowers on slender stems. The piggy-back leaf plantlets — not the flowers — are the primary feature.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Brownish-purple to chocolate, tubular, inconspicuous, 0.3 inch (8 mm), on slender stems 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) above the foliageFoliage Description
Medium green, hairy, palmately lobed (5-7 shallow lobes), maple-like, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm); plantlets develop at the junction of the leaf blade and petioleGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-3 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
Full shade to partial shade. Consistent moisture. The piggy-back plantlets root where they contact soil. Also grown as a houseplant. 'Taff's Gold' for gold-variegated foliage. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Native. Zones 5–9.Pruning
Remove spent flower stems and dead foliage in early spring (March). No other pruning. The plant spreads by the rooting piggy-back plantlets.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
very lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons