Tolmiea menziesii Cool Gold

Tolmiea menziesii Cool Gold is part of a group of evergreen perennial plants which make good groundcover in damp and semi-shaded areas. This Cool Gold variety is characterised by densely packed, disease-resistant foliage that ranges from golden to lime green. It flowers discreetly in spring, with small flowers that can vary in colour from green to brown. Capable of discouraging unwanted weeds and decorative even in winter, this Tolmiea thrives in damp woodland areas or at the base of trees, in regions that are not too cold. It can also be successfully grown in hanging baskets in a conservatory or in a bright, moderately heated indoor space.

Tolmiea menziesii Cool Gold belongs to the family Saxifragaceae. Its ancestor is native to the undergrowth of the west coast of the United States, and its hardiness does not exceed -10°C (14°F) at its coldest. It is a perennial plant with a rhizomatous rootstock: it spreads fairly rapidly over time, forming a carpet through small stolons, but it can be easily controlled. The plant has a spread-out, dense growth habit that persists in winter (in not too cold winters), reaching a height of 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in). This Tolmiea produces heart-shaped, very hairy leaves with finely toothed edges. New leaves emerge above the older ones. The lamina is pale green to golden yellow in colour. Seedlings form on the older leaves, at the point where the petiole joins the leaf lamina. These rootless seedlings can be used for cuttings to propagate the plant. Flowering occurs in late spring, usually in June. It takes the form of pale green and brown bell-shaped flowers arranged in clusters.

Tolmiea menziesii is a hardy, bright, evergreen groundcover plant suitable for mild climates, which should be grown in humus-rich soil and in moderately shaded areas. Once established, they require little maintenance. Regular watering is necessary during dry summers. Plant them at the base of trees, alongside hostas and ferns. You can create a beautiful spring scene by planting them with other shade-loving perennials such as watercress, creeping bugleweed, Lychnis Jenny, pink astilbes, Mertensia virginica, and white or pink Physostegia virginiana. Indoors, place the Tolmiea menziesii Cool Gold in a hanging basket in a bright room, but avoid direct sunlight that could scorch its leaves.