Practical
Plants

Tolmiea menziesii

Youth On Age

a perennial evergreen member of the Tolmiea genus in the family Saxifragaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Tolmiea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young shoots in spring - raw[2][8]. Rather bitter[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

A poultice of the fresh leaves has been used in the treatment of boils[8].

Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

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

A ground cover plant for a shady position[5]. Plants are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Western N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[3].
Habitat
Moist coniferous woods below 1800 metres[4], especially by streams[9].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
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 - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. 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 of young plants in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

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

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in any good sweet garden soil that does not dry out in spring[6]. Prefers a fairly rich and not too heavy soil[6]. Requires some shade to prevent leaf-scorch[6]. Succeeds in dry shade[5]. Succeeds in the border or woodland[1]. Although perfectly hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -17°c[6], this plant is often grown as a houseplant because of its interesting habit of producing new young plants on its old leaves[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

    ↩

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

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