Adorable little native plant. Subtle, rather than showy.

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This nice woodland forb of Two-leaved Miterwort or Bishop's-Cap or Fairy-Cup is native from northern Minnesota to New Hampshire to northern Georgia to southern Arkansas. It thrives best in part-shade and moist, rich soils, but tolerates drier soil and full shade. One source says it is slow to establish, but other sources say it is easy to grow and durable. Its small, individual flowers are white cups with 5 fringed petals that bloom about a month long in spring from late April to early June, depending on latitude. The basal leaves resemble Heuchera. On the flowering stalks there are pairs of leaves. It bears tiny black seeds held in upward facing cups that are dispersed by splashing rain. Plants from seed take 3 years to bloom. The flowers are pollinated by short-tongued bees and syrphid flies. I've never seen it sold at a conventional nursery, but some native plant and specialty nurseries sell plants and/or seed, as Izel Native Plants, Prairie Moon Nursery, and Van Berkum Nursery.

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