Pick-a-back plant Tolmiea menziesii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TOL-mee-uh men-ZEE-see-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Piggyback Plant is a native evergreen perennial herb found on the coast of western North America. It grows as a ground cover in moist forests, wetlands and along streams to 1 foot tall. The flowers appear in loose racemes in spring with small tubular purplish-brown flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The maple leaf-shaped leaves form a dense ground cover and the mature leaves form plantlets at the base where the stem meets the leaf. These fall to the ground and root. The plant can also spread by rhizomes and seeds.
Use this plant as a ground cover in a shady moist to wet area or as a house plant in a hanging pot. It needs moist fertile soil and high humidity.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Taff's Gold
Leaves variegated with gold - 'Variegata'
Creamy yellow mottling
- 'Taff's Gold
- 'Taff's Gold, 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Taff's Gold
Leaves variegated with gold - 'Variegata'
Creamy yellow mottling
- 'Taff's Gold
- 'Taff's Gold, 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tolmiea
- Species:
- menziesii
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western coastal North America
- Distribution:
- AK , CA , OR , WA Canada: BC
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The capsule contains spiny fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small flowers occur in a loose raceme. Individual flowers are tubular with reddish-brown to chocolate petals and yellow anthers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Hairy leaves are similar to maple leaves in shape with 5-7 lobes and up to 4 inches wide. Plantlets form at the base where the stem meets the leaf.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy green stems
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
