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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Vancouveria hexandra


Vancouveria hexandra, Inside Out Flower, is a noteworthy N.W. native woodland groundcover.  It has pretty green foliage with interesting ternate leaves, giving it another common name, Duck’s Foot.  The delicate sprays of distinctive white flowers in late spring resemble it’s close relative, Epimedium.  Both are herbaceous members of the barberry family that also gives us other interesting genera including Podophyllum and Jeffersonia.

Inside out flower resembles a shooting star 

Vancouveria hexandra is found at low to mid elevations in our local forests and is a tough and adaptable perennial.  Often evergreen in mild winter conditions, it is deciduous when grown in colder weather .  It is also quite cold hardy and is reported to thrive in gardens in Pennsylvania and Vermont, far from its Pacific NW native habitat.


Vancouveria hexandra spreads slowly by underground rhizomes to form a charming groundcover to 18” tall.  Grow in part to full shade in humus rich, moist to dry soil.  Because of its drought tolerance, it is a welcome addition to our dry shade garden.

Dry shade garden with Menziesia ferruginea

Available now at the nursery.  We also expect to offer it in our 2012 online mail order catalog.
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 13, 2011 at 7:35 PM

    Love this charmer - an eye catcher in the woodland garden. Yes, at first one thinks Epimedium, so I'm not surprised to hear it is 'related'. Now that I know it's other common name, how could any self-respecting Oregon Duck's fan be without this! Skip

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  2. Wild Ginger FarmJune 14, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    It was first described as an Epimedium after being collected in 1792 during the expedition led by George Vancouver. When botanist Hooker moved it into its own genus in 1829, he named it after the great explorer. You are right that duck foot is a very appropriate common name, both for a native plant of the rainy Northwest and especially for UO fans.

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  3. AnonymousJune 20, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    If I live in a fairly maritime location (800 feet away from the Burrard Inlet and ~170 feet above sea level) and I were to use this plant in a part shade location...how "evergreen" will it be? I've heard it will look ratty and yellowish in the late cold winter, can anyone give me a second opinion?

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  4. Wild Ginger FarmJune 21, 2012 at 7:11 AM

    In milder climates, it will not be completely deciduous and the old foliage can look tired by late winter. You can cut back last year's foliage as you would for Epimediums just as the new growth tips emerge at soil level. I use garden shears to make the job quick and easy, being careful not to cut off the new growth.

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