Practical
Plants

Hydrophyllum capitatum

Cat's Breeches

a perennial member of the Hydrophyllum genus in the family Hydrophyllaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tender young shoots - cooked as a potherb[2][3]. Root - cooked[2]. Large and fleshy[3].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Alberta to British Columbia, south to Oregon and Colorado.
Habitat
Rich moist soils, most often in the shade, from valleys to around 2,700 metres[3].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in early spring. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn[1]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a moist humus-rich soil in semi-shade[1]. Grows well in an open woodland garden[1]. The leaves are shaped in such a way that they collect rainwater in a cavity[3]. Slugs are particularly fond of this plant and will soon destroy it if given a chance[K].

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  3. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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