Tellima grandiflora

Tellima grandiflora is a charming evergreen perennial ground cover that is robust despite its delicate appearance. It has elegant and generous foliage, which sometimes turns purple and takes on sumptuous autumnal hues before turning red in winter. From spring to summer, it has clusters of airy spikes adorned with tiny cream-coloured bells tinged with green, similar to heucheras. Strong and capable of smothering weeds, it is suitable for shade and will thrive under bushes, even in root-filled soil.

Tellima grandiflora belongs to the Saxifragaceae family and is native to North America, ranging from the moist forests of northern California, through British Columbia, to Alaska. This perennial forms a rosette-like tuft 50 cm (20in) high and 30 cm (12in) wide and spreads rapidly through self-seeding to cover the ground. The evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves are elegant like Heuchera leaves, rounded, toothed and heart-shaped. They are hairy but glossy green, sometimes infused with dark red and turn red at the first cold. From May to July, clusters of small cream-tinged green bells 60 cm (24in) high emerge from the foliage. The nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies.

Tellima grandiflora is unique and easy to grow. It can be used in borders, in a group, as an edging plant, in rockeries, and shady areas of the garden, even dry and difficult spots. It is often found in the wild growing with other plants like Tiarella, carex, and ferns, and this combination can be replicated in moist woodland areas. It also pairs well with periwinkles, dead nettles, bear's breeches, Geranium phaeum or nodosum, and vigorous comfreys in dry shade.