Two-leaf Miterwort Mitella diphylla

Bishop's Cap is a flowering, herbaceous perennial in the saxifrage family and native to North America. It is a small plant, reaching about a foot in height or width. This slender, woodland plant with tiny white, fringed flowers of 5 delicate petals blooms in the spring. It has basal leaves that are heart-shaped and hairy-stemmed as well as a pair of similar, but stemless, leaves two-thirds up the flower stalk. The genus name, Mitella, means "little miter", because the shape of the mature seed capsules resembles a miter, a headdress worn by bishops in certain traditional Christian sects. The species name, diphylla, means "two-leaved", in reference to the two, opposite, cauline (non-basal) leaves on the flowering stalk.

Bishop's Cap prefers a rich, moist, woodland setting where the soil is organically rich, acidic, well-drained, and consistently moist and there is abundant shade. It can tolerate drier soils or full shade conditions. The root system can produce vegetative colonies from rhizomes. The plant self-sows in a rich soil and can spread quickly.

The flowering stalk has 1/8 inch white flowers spaced up to 1" apart along the stem and give the appearance of snowflakes. They are best viewed with a magnifying glass or hand lens to appreciate the geometry of the blossom. Bishop's Cap can be slow to establish and is picky about its growing conditions. Once it is settled in with the right level of shade and moisture, it can become a jewel in a spring shade garden. Because of the small flower size, plant where the flowers can be enjoyed up close.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.