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Virginia Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum virginianum

Native, potentially aggressive, erect, perennial forb. Suited as an aggressive groundcover for shady areas and as a woodland wildflower. It is also suited for shady rain gardens in most soil conditions, especially loams. Because it is aggressive as a ground cover, it is suited for vegetated swales and soil stabilization areas in shady places.

USDA symbol: HYVI

General Information

Plant TypeForb
Height1 to 2 feet
Light ExposurePart Sun, Shade
Soil MoistureMedium
Bloom ColorPurple
Virginia Waterleaf (Virginia Waterleaf<div><em class="small">Hydrophyllum virginianum</em></div>)
Photo credit: Rich Harrison (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceHigh
General Resilience7
Salt ToleranceUnknown
Stress ToleranceGeneral Disturbance

Pollinator Value: High

Bloom MonthsMay
Larval Host ofBees
Specific Pollinators HostedAndrena geranii
Pollinator BenefitInsect Pollinated, Provides Nectar

Project Planning

Project TypeErosion Control, Restoration, Shoreline Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism4
Herbivore SensitivityLow
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadFast
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands