Boraginaceae
Ballhead Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum var. capitatum
Also known as Ball-Head Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum capitatum, Hydrophyllum capitatum subvar. densum, Hydrophyllum capitatum subvar. laxum
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Waterleaf · Native Perennial · Woodland Plant · Groundcover · Shade Plant · Spring Ephemeral · Boraginaceae · Pacific Northwest · Rocky Mountain · Pollinator Plant
Ballhead Waterleaf is a charming native perennial groundcover that thrives in moist, shaded woodland settings across western North America. It produces rounded clusters of pale lavender to white flowers in early spring and goes dormant by midsummer, making it ideal for underplanting beneath deciduous trees. Minimal care is needed once sited correctly in humus-rich, consistently moist soil.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil evenly moist, especially during active spring growth; reduce watering as plant goes dormant in summer · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.4–7.8
- Temperature
- -40°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 3a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 6 in – 18 in
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
More Hydrophyllum
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