Native Habitat:
Moist forests, streambanks, and shaded slopes across North America, including the Willamette Valley.
 
Bloom Time:
June – July
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Perennial herb forming upright clumps 3–6 feet tall with fern-like, compound leaves and feathery white plumes of tiny flowers.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Partial to full shade; prefers moist, rich, well-drained soils. Tolerates occasional wet conditions.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Tolmiea menziesii, Polystichum munitum, Achlys triphylla, Camassia leichtlinii, Tellima grandiflora.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides dramatic vertical accents and feathery texture in shaded urban gardens, rain gardens, and woodland plantings. Its plumes create soft movement and seasonal interest, complementing ferns, shade perennials, and understory shrubs. Works well along pathways, in naturalized plantings, or to create layered, multi-season visual structure in urban habitat gardens.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees (Bombus spp.), syrphid flies, and butterflies. Dense foliage offers shelter for small insects, amphibians, and ground-dwelling arthropods.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes, including poultices and teas; valued for its ornamental beauty in shaded landscapes.