Boraginaceae
Woollen-breeches
Hydrophyllum capitatum
Also known as Dutchman's breeches, Longhorn steer's head, Steer's head
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Woodland Wildflower · Shade Perennial · Spring Ephemeral · Native Plant · Pollinator · Mountain Native · Pacific Northwest · Boraginaceae · Low Maintenance
Woollen-breeches is a charming early-spring native perennial best suited to shaded, moist woodland settings in western North America. It produces clusters of delicate lavender to white flowers before most other plants emerge, making it a wonderful choice for naturalizing under deciduous trees. Keep the soil consistently moist and rich in organic matter for best results.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately to keep soil moist; avoid letting it dry out completely · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.4–7.8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 20 ft – 40 ft
- Spread
- 20 ft
- Spacing
- 12 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
Sources: trefle, usda
More Hydrophyllum
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