bowman’s root

Gillenia 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 G. trifoliatus (formerly Porteranthus 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.