Bowman's Root
Gillenia trifoliata
A froth of small white flowers on wiry red stems in late spring, then orange and burgundy fall foliage. A graceful, long-lived clump for shade edges.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
Spring cloud of white flowers, brilliant red fall color, graceful all season -- a four-season native that's chronically under-planted.
Bowman's root is one of the most graceful native perennials for the shade garden. In late spring and early summer, it covers itself in a cloud of small five-petaled white flowers on wiry red stems, creating a frothy, airy display that looks almost like baby's breath floating above the compound foliage. Then, as temperatures drop in fall, the leaves shift to orange and burgundy red, an all-season performer that gives you two distinct high moments each year. The plant forms a long-lived, gradually expanding clump with an open, vase-shaped habit that works well at the edge of shade gardens and woodland borders. It handles part shade to full sun and adapts to dry conditions once established. A genuine four-season perennial that earns its space on horticultural merit alone.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown bowman's root propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 2–3 ft · 24–36 in wide
- Bloom time
- May–June
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from Ontario south to Georgia and west to Michigan and Missouri, primarily in mountain woodlands
Care notes for bowman's root.
Full sun to part shade in average, well-drained soil. More drought tolerant than its mountain origins suggest. Does not self-seed aggressively. Cut back to the ground in early spring before new growth emerges. Slow to establish but extraordinarily long-lived once settled.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside bowman's root.
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