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Tolmiea menziesii (Pickaback plant)
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1 hour care
per year
per year
0.45m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Tolmiea menziesii
Other names
Mother of thousands, Youth on age, Piggy-back plant, Mother of millions, Pig-a-back plant, Thousand mothers, Pickaback plant, Pick-a-back plant
Genus
Tolmiea Tolmiea
Species
T. menziesii - T. menziesii is a small semi-evergreen perennial. It has rough, hairy, ivy-shaped leaves and in spirng, bears spikes of tiny, nodding, greenish, tubular flowers. Its common names refer to the plantlets that develop where the leaves join the stem of the plant.
Tolmiea menziesii is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Mat Forming
Flower
Pale-green in Spring
Foliage
Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
Cut back damaged leaves in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Root plantlets, Seed
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Where to grow
Tolmiea menziesii (Pickaback plant) will reach a height of 0.45m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Edging, Foliage only, Garden edging, Ground Cover, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Underplanting, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist soil in partial or full shade. Sunlight & cold winters can damage leaves. Protect with a dry winter mulch or overwinter indoors. Alternatively, grow under glass in indirect light. Water freely & feed monthly.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, East
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Tolmiea menziesii
Other names
Mother of thousands, Youth on age, Piggy-back plant, Mother of millions, Pig-a-back plant, Thousand mothers, Pickaback plant, Pick-a-back plant
Genus
Tolmiea Tolmiea
Species
T. menziesii - T. menziesii is a small semi-evergreen perennial. It has rough, hairy, ivy-shaped leaves and in spirng, bears spikes of tiny, nodding, greenish, tubular flowers. Its common names refer to the plantlets that develop where the leaves join the stem of the plant.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Mat Forming
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Colour
Flower
Pale-green in Spring
Foliage
Green in All seasons
General care
Pruning
Cut back damaged leaves in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Root plantlets, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Tolmiea menziesii (Pickaback plant) will reach a height of 0.45m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Edging, Foliage only, Garden edging, Ground Cover, Indoor, Low Maintenance, Underplanting, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist soil in partial or full shade. Sunlight & cold winters can damage leaves. Protect with a dry winter mulch or overwinter indoors. Alternatively, grow under glass in indirect light. Water freely & feed monthly.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, East
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, East | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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