Species Name: Porteranthus trifoliatus, Gillenia trifoliatus

Common Name: Bowman’s Root

Zone: 4 to 8

Light: Full Sun to Light Shade

Soil Moisture: Moist to Medium to Medium dry

Soil Types: Sand, Loam, Clay, Well drained

Fertility: Medium to Rich

pH: 5 to 6.8 Acid to Neutral

Bloom Time: May - June

Habit: An underutilized attractive native wildflower. It grows 2 to 3 foot tall with an equal spread. It blooms from late spring to early summer. Bowman’s root is a long lived, tough, drought tolerant perennial. Its broad shrub-like growth habit makes it desirable for use in mass plantings and other landscape uses where a broad full plant is needed. Plants are covered in white to light pink star like flowers in late spring that last for a couple of weeks. Foliage remains attractive throughout the summer with fall leaves turning golden yellow to bronze against the dark reddish-brown stems.

Numerous insects and butterflies are attracted to the bountiful flowers. The foliage is unattractive to deer and this quality should make it a desirable addition to most residential landscapes and for use in naturalizing wild lands.

Under natural conditions it can be found growing on exposed slopes, along woodland margins and in partial shade of dry to moist open woodlands.

It is relatively easy to grow from seed and will naturalize on its own when given the opportunity.

Star shaped flowers

Plant in full bloom

Fall color