Description
Mitella – Bishop’s Cap – Miterwort –
There are about 20 species of clump forming, rhizomatous perennial in this genus. They occur in woodland in Northeastern Asia and North America. The long stalked, lobed, ovate, glossy, mid or dark green, basal leaves are heart shaped at the bases and have a fine covering of hairs and vary from ½-4″ across. Slender, often one sided, occasionally leafy racemes of tiny, green, white or pink, pendent or horizontal, bell shaped flowers, each with 5 fringed petals are borne in spring and summer, with up to 60 flowers per spike. Use as a groundcover in a woodland garden.
Grow in moist but well drained, humus rich, acidic soil in partial or dapple shade. They self seed freely. Divide in spring or late winter.
Prone to rust, leaf spot, as well as slugs and snails.
M. breweri – This dainty perennial found from Western to Central North America grows to 6″ tall and 8″ wide when in bloom. It produces hairy, indistinctly lobed, broadly ovate, light green leaves, 2-4″ long. In late spring and summer it bears erect racemes of 20-40 yellowish green flowers, 1/16″ long, with fringed, comb-like petals, on stems to 6″ tall.
Zones 5-7
