Virginia Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum virginianum
Virginia waterleaf spreads into leafy colonies in rich moist woods, topped with clusters of bell-shaped white-to-lavender flowers whose long stamens give a frothy look. Bees love it. Young leaves are mild enough for salads raw, and older leaves cook up like spinach — best harvested young, since they turn bitter with age.
- Family
- Hydrophyllaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 1–2 ft apart
- Light
- part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- neutral
- Bloom
- May, June
- Bloom colors
- white, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators
- Landscape uses
- naturalizing
- Native states
- AR, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV