Known for its beautiful "water-spotted" foliage and unique, shimmering blooms, its name comes from the distinctive silvery-white markings on its young leaves, which look as though water has splashed across them and left a permanent stain. These markings usually fade as the summer heat sets in, leaving behind a lush, deep green backdrop. In late spring, the plant sends up clusters of delicate, bell-shaped flowers that range from white to pale lavender. The flowers feature long, protruding stamens that give them a whimsical, "fuzzy" appearance. This plant is a rapid grower that excels at filling in gaps between larger shrubs or trees, creating a dense and healthy woodland floor.
Sun Exposure: part shade to full shade
Water Needs: medium to high; prefers moist soil
Soil Type: rich, moist loam
Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet
Deer Resistance: moderate
Bloom Time: May – June
Bloom Color: shades of lavender to white
Plant Spacing: 10 to 12 inches
Decorative Foliage: The deeply lobed leaves provide excellent texture even when the plant is not in bloom.
Efficient Groundcover: Virginia Waterleaf spreads via rhizomes and self-seeding, making it perfect for naturalizing large areas where you want to suppress weeds.
Hardy & Resilient: It thrives in the dappled sunlight of a forest edge and is quite competitive, holding its own against more aggressive garden plants.
Can be aggressive spreader: keep this in mind when picking your planting site.
Pollinators: The nectar-rich flowers are a major draw for native bees, including bumblebees and masonry bees, as well as beneficial syrphid flies.
Known for its beautiful "water-spotted" foliage and unique, shimmering blooms, its name comes from the distinctive silvery-white markings on its young leaves, which look as though water has splashed across them and left a permanent stain. These markings usually fade as the summer heat sets in, leaving behind a lush, deep green backdrop. In late spring, the plant sends up clusters of delicate, bell-shaped flowers that range from white to pale lavender. The flowers feature long, protruding stamens that give them a whimsical, "fuzzy" appearance. This plant is a rapid grower that excels at filling in gaps between larger shrubs or trees, creating a dense and healthy woodland floor.
Sun Exposure: part shade to full shade
Water Needs: medium to high; prefers moist soil
Soil Type: rich, moist loam
Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet
Deer Resistance: moderate
Bloom Time: May – June
Bloom Color: shades of lavender to white
Plant Spacing: 10 to 12 inches
Decorative Foliage: The deeply lobed leaves provide excellent texture even when the plant is not in bloom.
Efficient Groundcover: Virginia Waterleaf spreads via rhizomes and self-seeding, making it perfect for naturalizing large areas where you want to suppress weeds.
Hardy & Resilient: It thrives in the dappled sunlight of a forest edge and is quite competitive, holding its own against more aggressive garden plants.
Can be aggressive spreader: keep this in mind when picking your planting site.
Pollinators: The nectar-rich flowers are a major draw for native bees, including bumblebees and masonry bees, as well as beneficial syrphid flies.
