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Vancouveria hexandra

INSIDE OUT FLOWER
Family: Berberidaceae
Pronounced: vang-koo-VEH-ree-uh heks-AN-druh

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GROWING GUIDE

Geographic Origin: 
Oregon, Washington and California.
Plant Group: 
Perennials.
Hardiness: 
Sunset zones: 4-6, 14-17.
USDA zones: 5-8.
Heat zones: 8-5.
Mature size: 
Height: 16 inches (40 cm).
Width: 16 inches (40 cm).
Flowering period: 
April-June.
Flowering attributes: 
Panicles of white flowers with petals reflexed make it look like a flower turned inside-out.
Leaf attributes: 
Light green, 2 ternate leaves.
Growth habit: 
Creeping.
Light: 
Partial shade.
Soil: 
Humus rich, well-drained soil.
Feeding: 
Side dressing of compost in spring or fall.
Propagation Methods: 
Sow seed as soon as ripe.
Divisions in spring.

Rainy Side Notes

I love this little native perennial, Vancouveria hexandra, a close relative of epimediums. In my garden, it slowly creeps around its allotted space by underground rhizomes. Where it shares a bed, it tickles and nudges a tiarella species (Foam flower). I believe the vancouverias are winning the bed over as I can see the flowers of the Tiarella bravely poking above the leaves of the Vancouveria. This plant grows on the shady east side of my home under a Red elderberry— Sambucus racemosa—and a Fatsia shrub. It snuggles up underneath the Bleeding heart— Dicentra spectabilis—and Evergreen huckleberry— Vaccinium ovatum. Considered deciduous, the duck foot-shaped leaves of the vancouverias remain evergreen in this protected spot.

Inside-out flower is named after Captain George Vancouver and its epithet hexandra, means six stamens. The flowers resemble the blossoms of our native shootingstar— Dodecatheon—or a Cyclamen. The Inside-out flower grows in woodlands dominated by Douglas fir, White oak, Western hemlock, Silver fir, Noble fir and Western red cedar, as well as mixed evergreen and broadleaf deciduous forests.

The Yurok tribe from Northwestern California chewed the leaves* of V. hexandra for a cough medicine. Modern medicinal uses* are for sinus congestion, chronic rhinitis and hay fever.

Photographed in author's garden.

Rainy Side Gardeners — rainyside.com