General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Plant Height: 6 - 24 inches
Plant Spread: 6 - 12 inches
Leaves: Variegated
Spring ephemeral
Other: Goes dormant in summer if soil dries out.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Lavender
White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Propagation: Seeds: Stratify seeds: 2 months cold moist treatment
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Flies
Bees

Image
Common names
  • Virginia Waterleaf
  • Shawnee Salad
  • Indian Salad
  • John's Cabbage
  • Brook Flower
  • Eastern Waterleaf

Photo Gallery
Photo by _Bleu_
Photo by Anderwood
Location: Vaughan, ON, Canada (Zone 5b)
Date: 2014-06-05
Location: IL
Date: 2016-05-28
Taken at local forest preserve.
Location: Natural Area in Northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-26
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2014-05-19
Photo by seedrat
Location: Natural Area in Northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-26

Date: 2002-05-17
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Vaughan, ON, Canada (Zone 5b)
Date: 2007-04-29
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-05-15
Photo of leaf showing charachteristic "water spots"
Photo by seedrat
Photo by jmorth
Location: Natural Area in Northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-26
Location: Natural Area in Northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-26
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Cyclaminist (Minneapolis, Minnesota - Zone 5a) on May 25, 2016 9:20 PM concerning plant:
    A native plant for shade that feeds bees with nectar and pollen. The earliest leaves are variegated with white patches, but the leaves that develop later are completely green.

    Many people don't like it because it's pretty tough and it self-seeds, but I just deadhead it to keep it from making seed.
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Jan 15, 2012 3:55 PM concerning plant:
    An Illinois wildflower found in moist woods. Not uncommon.
    American Indians used tea made from roots as an astringent to stop bleeding and for diarrhea and dysentery. Iroquois ate tender young leaves as greens.

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