Tolmiea menziesii
Thousand Mothers, Piggyback PlantFamily: Saxifragaceae
Origin: North America
Tolmiea menziesii (Thousand Mothers) is a plant native to North America. It is a groundcover and low-growing, reaching as much as 2ft, despite most specimens only reaching a few inches. In warmer areas, the plant can grow into a small bush, up to 5ft tall, but this depends on the care taken of it.
It likes full sun, but will do well in semi-shade. It prefers regular water, but can survive on moderate water in drier conditions. The ornamental foliage of this plant is particular attractive, and provides awe-inspiring colors of foliage in the summer.
The plant is cold-hardy, and can survive short time periods in temperatures down to 30F. However, in such cold regions, it is best to grow in a pot to be able to huddle it indoors in winters or during cold snaps. The plant will benefit from some good potting soil and enough moisture so the roots remain damp.
In general, Tolmiea menziesii is suitable for USDA Zones 9-11, so anyone living in warmer coastal states or with a greenhouse or sunroom to bring plants inside during winter should have no issues growing this plant.
