trefle.io · Taken Mar 23, 2018 by anne daudin (cc-by-sa)
Orobanchaceae
Purple toothwort
Lathraea clandestina
Also known as Purple coralroot, Cardamine, Coralroot, Clandestina rectiflora
Native Plants · Parasite · Holoparasite · Woodland · Spring-Flowering · Shade · Rare · Specialist · Purple-Flower · Orobanchaceae · Unusual
Purple toothwort is a fascinating holoparasitic plant that produces stunning violet flowers in early spring but has no green leaves and cannot photosynthesize — it must be planted near a compatible host tree such as willow, alder, or hazel to survive. Establishing it requires patience and the right host root contact, making it a rewarding challenge for specialist gardeners. Keep the planting area consistently moist and shaded, and avoid disturbing the root zone once planted.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist; never allow to fully dry out as it is a root parasite dependent on host plant health · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain
- Attracts
- Bees
Sources: trefle
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