Ballhead Waterleaf

Ballhead Waterleaf Care

Hydrophyllum Capitatum

What is the plant

Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) has short stems and a dense cluster of purple or whitish flowers that are typically much shorter than the basal leaves. These flowers open from May to July, depending on elevation. In bud, the sepals and petals appear coarsely fuzzy, prompting another common name of woollen-breeches.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Shade

Temperature

min 8°C

Hardiness zone

4 - 8

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water as needed to keep the soil slightly moist but never soggy.
Pruning
You should prune out any brown or yellow fronds.
Fertilizer
You can fertilize the plant every spring using a general, all-purpose mixture.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Waterleaf prefers shady sites. This native perennial prefers shady to partly shady sites (but tolerates full sun) and loamy soil rich in organic matter. It can be a good addition to woodland gardens but spreads aggressively, so is not a great choice for small landscapes.
Soil
Best grown in fertile, organically rich, continuously moist to boggy soils.
Temperature
Ideal temperatures should be approximately 65-75ºF + (18-24ºC +), closer to 70ºF is best.