I found this remarkable form of our native Inside Out flower in southern Oregon,  I wiggled off a tiny piece and put it in my pocket, the parent plant was unharmed.  Its taken years but we are ready to offer this beautiful form of our native Vancouveria hexandra with new foliage that is deep wine colored and then matures to green with a red edge. In early summer this spreading perennial sports upside down white flowers on 4″ to 6″ above the foliage. A spreading ground cover that shows remarkable tolerance to drought once established.  Amend the soil  with compost and mulch, water consistently for the first year or two. Let the soil dry between watering. Leaves rise 6″ and forms spreading colonies.  Winter deciduous, it disappears completely – all the better to showcase the deep burgundy new growth. Fall color is yellow and brief and the plant remains decompose over winter.  Not the first plant to be devoured by deer/ rabbits but I would protect for the first few years.  Deep burgundy foliage remains showy before morphing to deep green  with a red edge. This is a member of the Barberry family (Berberidaceae) and is related to Epimedium and has the same applications. Combine with gold leaved perennials for the most contrast and drama. Hakenochloa macra ‘All Gold’ , ‘Campanula garganica ‘Dicksons Gold’, and Golden baby tears , Soleirolia soleirolii ‘Aurea’ . Very good in containers as well. Spice up a native garden. This perennial makes a great cover for native bulbs –  Brodiaea  and Fritillaria lanceolata, Calochortus tolmei,- are excellent companions, fading just as the Vancouveria  is emerging and bulking up. Enriched soil, regular water to establish, this dweller of the forest floor appreciates an annual mulch.  Oregon native plant 

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Vancouveria hexandra

Inside-Out-Flower is a commonly seen terrestrial component in dry to moderately moist woodlands in our region. The duck foot shaped leaves are conspicuous and pretty and in late spring to mid-summer a continuous supply of dainty downward pointing white flowers. Spreads in gardens very well in enriched soil with regular summer water where it will quickly assume the role of an intertwining ground cover. Winter deciduous- un-like its close and much more drought adapted relative Vancouveria chrysantha (Yellow inside-out-flower, Siskiyou Vancouveria). This perennial is perfect for life among shrubs or mixing with other woodland perennials in part shade to shade. Adapts well to garden culture and thrives on regular summer irrigation. Locally native in the city of Portland. To 10″ tall and spreading. Some deer resistance.  Oregon native plant.

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Vancouveria chrysantha

Rare perennial Siskiyou Inside-out-Flower is a much more drought tolerant version of our locally native Vancouveria hexandra (Inside out flower). This yellow flowered species tolerates extreme dry shade and colonizes even compacted dry soils to create a handsome ground cover. The delicate looking interestingly shaped leaves create a soft mound of shapes in cool green and edged slightly in red. In April-June 20″ wiry spikes suspend small downward pointing flowers- they appear to float above the foliage reminding me of a group of fireflies. (Wish we had those). Mostly evergreen if temperatures stay above about 15ºF.  Basically this is our version of Epimedium (to which it is related) but with more tolerance for summer drought. To 8″ tall and spreading to several feet wide in richer, moisture retentive soil. Light summer water increases growth.  This is an extraordinarily elegant native that should find a happy home in gardens too. Part shade to full shade. Not bothered by pests. Excellent perennial under large shrubs or within tree roots. In the wild it is the understory plant to Arctostaphylos, Rhododendron, Vaccinium, Notholithocarpus densiflorus var. echinoides.  Associate perennials were Oxalis oreganus and Mianthemum as well as viola semperivrens- Redwood violet. Easy community to replicate in your garden. Oregon native plant.

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