Western Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum occidentale
Care
part shade
Prefers loamy soils.
2–2ft tall
Mar-May
Friendly
Moist forests and woodlands of the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains from Butte County to Tulare County, 2000-6000 ft elevation, extending to Oregon.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your western waterleaf in part shade with loamy, well-draining soil - it thrives in these conditions across the Bay Area. Space plants about 2 feet apart since they spread via rhizomes and will fill in over time. Spring is your best planting window to let the plant establish before summer.
After Planting
Water weekly during your plant's first summer to help it get established, then gradually reduce watering as it matures since western waterleaf tolerates drier conditions once settled in. Expect delicate white to lavender flowers in spring (March through May), and don't be alarmed when the plant dies back after blooming - this is normal dormancy behavior. The #1 mistake is overwatering once established; remember this plant grows wild on dry chaparral slopes, so less water is usually better than more.
Wildlife Supported
Birds
browses young leaves in montane riparian zones
gleans insects from foliage during spring foraging
Insects
cool, moist spring conditions favor infection