Carried by 3 nurseries
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The plant Tolmiea menziesii is the only member of the monotypic genus Tolmiea. It is known by the common names youth on age, thousand mothers, and piggyback plant. It is a perennial plant commonly kept as an ornamental. It is native to the west coast of North America, especially in regions dominated by s. It requires moisture and does not tolerate much sun or dry conditions. The plant is most interesting for its reproductive habits. It grows plantlets from the petiole near the base of each leaf. The plantlets drop off, fall in the soil, and take root there. It will also reproduce by rhizome and by seed propagation. It bears small flowers of various colors, usually brownish-purple to white depending on the cultivar. It has hairy, toothed leaves and a capsule fruit containing spiny seed.
Perennial herb
Purple, Green, Cream, White, Brown
Spring
Groundcover, Deer resistant
Partial Shade
Moderate, High
Moderate
Medium
Prefers rich, forest soil with well-decomposed organic component derived from decaying wood. For garden purposes add redwood compost to soil mix.
For propagating by seed: No treatment.
4, 5*, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24*
Douglas-Fir Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Forest, Wetland-Riparian