Virginia Waterleaf

Virginia Waterleaf is a spring-blooming perennial native to moist woodlands across eastern North America. It typically grows 12 to 18 inches tall and forms low, spreading colonies of deeply lobed, bright green leaves often marked with silvery “water stains”—a trait that gives the plant its common name. In mid to late spring, it sends up fuzzy stems topped with nodding clusters of bell-shaped flowers in pale violet, lavender, or occasionally white, which are highly attractive to bumblebees and other early-flying pollinators.

Thriving in part to full shade and moist, rich soils, Virginia Waterleaf is ideal for woodland gardens, native groundcover plantings, or as a naturalistic filler beneath taller shade perennials. It spreads readily by rhizomes and seed, making it an effective option for stabilizing soil and filling in shaded understory layers.

• Prefers moist, well-drained soil; water during dry periods to prevent summer dormancy.
• Can be cut back after blooming to tidy appearance or manage spread. Foliage may decline in midsummer but often rebounds in cooler fall weather.
• Grows best in organically rich, humusy soil with good moisture retention.
• Apply a layer of leaf mulch or compost to mimic woodland conditions and retain soil moisture.
• May spread aggressively in ideal conditions—thin or divide clumps in spring or fall to manage growth if needed. Allow some reseeding in gardens where its early bloom is desired annually.