Mitella breweri
Moist-forest flowering plant named after botanist William Henry Brewer, found in the Pacific Northwest, notable for feathery petals.
Common Names
Brewer's Mitrewort, Mitrewort, Miterwort, Brewer's Bishop's Cap, Feathery Bishop's Cap, Bishop's Hat, Feathery Mitrewort
Summary
Brewer's mitrewort is a perennial herb in the Saxifragaceae family native to western North America from British Columbia to central California and Nevada, where it grows in moist woodlands, wetlands, stream banks, and forested slopes in shade. It forms a compact clump with basal rounded leaves that are cordate to reniform with scalloped margins, and erect flowering stems to about 15–30 cm tall bearing one-sided spikes of small greenish-yellow flowers.
It prefers shade and moist, well-drained soils (including heavy clay) and occurs in moist forests, woods, and along streams across its range. Propagation is by seed or division, with potential self-seeding under favorable conditions, and practical uses include woodland plantings and shaded borders; plants may spread to about 30 cm and may be susceptible to slugs and snails while generally disease-free.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-8 inches
Spread
6-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones unknown
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil
Soil pH
Slightly acidic
Bloom Color
Yellow-green
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Spreading
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division (in spring)
Attracts Wildlife
No known wildlife attraction in the UK.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- A.Gray
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 533 (1865)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Saxifragales
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus
- Mitella