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Tolmiea menziesii

Tolmiea menziesii (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray

Youth On Age, Piggyback-plant, Youth-on-age, Thousand Mothers

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonym(s): Tiarella menziesii

USDA Symbol: TOME

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

This perennial�s several wand-like flower stalks, up to 2 1/2 ft. tall, produce loose flower clusters. The modest flowers are an unusual greenish-purple to chocolate color and have bright-yellow anthers. The broad sepals contrast with the filamentous petals. Lobed and toothed leaves, reduced upward on the stem, are hairy.

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: S. AK, s. to Santa Cruz Co., CA, mostly to the w. of the mts.
Native Habitat: Moist woods; stream banks

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, rich soils.
Conditions Comments: This unusual plant reproduces vegetatively by developing plantlets at the juncture of petiole and leaf blade. It is often sold as a house plant.

Benefit

Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Minor skin irritation on contact. Symptoms include allergic reactions; redness, itching, blisters; low risk. Toxic Principle: Unidentified. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Easy to propagate from seed, leaf plantlets, or pieces of rootstock.
Seed Treatment: No treatment necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACW	FACW							FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tolmiea menziesii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tolmiea menziesii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tolmiea menziesii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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