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Vancouveria spp.
inside-out flower
Overview
Vancouveria spp. is a genus of three species of low woodland perennials in the barberry family (Berberidaceae), native to the moist forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America. Plants grow from slender, creeping rhizomes and form spreading carpets of compound leaves on wiry stalks 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall. Each leaflet is rounded to three-lobed with a thin, soft texture, resembling the foliage of a small maidenhair fern. In late spring and early summer, airy sprays of small, nodding flowers rise above the leaves; their petals and sepals sweep sharply backward, giving the look of a shuttlecock turned inside out, the source of the common name inside-out flower. Flower colour is white in most species and pale yellow in Vancouveria chrysantha. The genus spreads steadily to form ground cover in shade and is evergreen in mild areas, deciduous where winters are cold. It needs shade, humus-rich soil, and steady moisture, and scorches in full sun or dry ground.
Native Range
Native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, from southwestern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon into northern California, in moist coniferous and mixed forests.Suggested Uses
Grown as a shade ground cover in woodland gardens, under shrubs and trees, and along shaded paths. Suited to naturalising with ferns and other Pacific Northwest woodland plants.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'4"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale yellowFoliage 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