Mukdenia rossii

Mukdenia rossii, also known as Ross's Mukdenia or Aceriphyllum rossii, is a small perennial plant that thrives in cool, moist woodland. It is relatively unknown but beautiful and hardy, making it well-suited for regions with wet and cool summers. The plant forms flowers in winter, while the foliage is still dormant, then in spring, the inflorescences rise in paniculate clusters of small white-greenish flowers, above the strongly palmate foliage that is a vibrant green with bronze undertones. This mukdenia will thrive in fertile and moist soil, such as a shaded rock garden, and can be used as ground cover in a shrub border.

Mukdenia rossii belongs to the saxifrage family, native to northern China, including Manchuria, and Korea. This perennial has a relatively large, fleshy, brownish rhizome. It forms a compact, spreading, herbaceous clump reaching a height and width of 40 cm (16in), composed of deciduous leaves that disappear quite early in late summer. These leaves start off acidic green, often tinged with bronze and red, then turn to a shiny medium green before becoming orange-red and eventually disappearing. The leaves can measure up to 13 cm (5in) in diameter and are deeply lobed and palmate, with irregularly toothed margins. Flowering occurs in March-April, before the foliage, with thick, reddish, hairy stems bearing light panicles, 14 cm (6in) long. The rose-greenish, hairy flower buds open up into small, fleshy, semi-double flowers with 12 white-greenish petals and 6 brown-pink stamens, followed by fruits known as capsules.

Mukdenia rossi is an ideal plant for woodland, shrub borders, mixed borders, and cool, shaded rock gardens. It can be paired with hostas, ferns, Japanese anemones, and bleeding hearts, which all thrive in similar conditions. In combination with the golden Hakonechloa macra 'Alboaurea', a small ornamental grass, it will create a stunning effect. Shrubs such as hydrangeas and fuchsias will provide a welcoming backdrop for this lovely plant, as long as the soil remains moist.