Plant DetailShow Menu

Bishops Cap Mitella diphylla

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
my-TEL-uh dy-FIL-uh
Description

A native, slender woodland plant with tiny white, fringed flowers with 5 delicate petals that bloom in the spring. Has basal, heart-shaped, hairy stemmed leaves a pair of similar, but stemless two-thirds up the flower stalk. Prefers a rich, moist, woodland setting,

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade garden#NC native#spring interest#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wildflower#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade garden#NC native#spring interest#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wildflower#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Mitella
    Species:
    diphylla
    Family:
    Saxifragaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    S.w. Que. & NH to MN, s. to upland GA,TN & AR
    Distribution:
    Rich, moist woods, stream banks in AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    5-20 small, cup-shaped white flowers on a 4-8 in. slender, elongated spike; five fringed petals resemble a snowflake; arranged singly on upper portion of stem; fruit is shaped like a miter (bishop’s headdress)
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Single pair of heart-shaped, three-lobed, toothed, stalkless leaves half way up the flowering stalk; basal, up to 3 in. leaves are long-stalked, hairy, ovate, lobed; resemble maple leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Pollinators