Hydrophyllum virginianum

Hydrophyllum virginianum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	(unplaced)
Family:	Boraginaceae
Subfamily:	Hydrophylloideae
Genus:	Hydrophyllum
Species:	H. virginianum
Binomial name
Hydrophyllum virginianum L.

The Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum, often misspelled as virginicum) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Eastern North America. The plant generally spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies in wooded areas. It can also spread by seeds. The seedling usually appear early to mid-spring. Flowers are blue, white, or purple, appearing in mid to late spring. Flowers exposed to sunlight bleach rapidly. Often the newer leaves are solid green with white spots appearing as they age and later disappearing in early summer. It prefers shade.

In the context of home landscaping, this is an aggressive plant that spreads quickly by runners.

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  Close up of leaves in early may in Ontario.

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  Flower bud cluster in early May in Ontario.

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  Virginia Waterleaf in bloom in mid May in Iowa.

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  Ripening seed pods in early June in Iowa.

External links

• Connecticut Botanical Society: Hydrophyllum virginianum