bowman’s root

Porteranthus trifoliatus (bowman’s root) provides interest in every season.

Bowman’s root is a native plant to eastern North America from Ontario south to Georgia, east of the Mississippi River. It puts on a great display of showy, 5-petaled star-like flowers in spring-to-early summer. Flowers fade as the heat of summer comes on. As the cooler weather of fall approaches, the leaves of P. trifoliatus begin to take on spectacular yellow-golden tones set against dark red-to-brown stems. Over winter textural interest is maintained by the upright, wire-like brown stems and remnants of leaves.