Hexastylis heterophylla (Ashe) Small. Common name: Variable-leaf Heartleaf. Phenology: Mar-late May. Habitat: Slopes and bluffs in xeric to mesic forests, usually associated with Kalmia latifolia. Distribution: A broad Southern Appalachian endemic: w. VA and WV south through e. KY, ne. TN, and w. NC to nw. SC, n. GA, and n. AL.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA3, K4, NS, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, Blomquist (1957), Gaddy (1987a); = Asarum heterophyllum Ashe — POWO, WV, Sinn (2015); < Asarum virginicum L. — F, G; < Hexastylis virginicum — C
Links to other floras: = Hexastylis heterophylla - FNA3
Heliophily ⓘ: 1
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Low-growing, stemless perennial from rhizomes, growing on slopes and bluffs in dry to moist forests, usually associated with Kalmia latifolia.
Stems:
Leaves: Leaves on long petioles arising from rhizime, triangular-heart-shaped, 1-4 in. long and wide, usually not variegated, evergreen-leathery with a spicy smell when torn.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers arise from the rhizome on such short stalks that they are often hidden beneath leaf litter. They are greenish or purplish outside and dark red-purple and reticulate-ridged inside, fleshy-firm, weakly bell-shaped with 3 spreading-ascending triangular lobes, the lobes often mottled with white or green.
Fruits: Fruit a round, fleshy capsule.
Comments: A southern Appalachian endemic.
Height: 2-6 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Low-growing, stemless perennial from rhizomes, growing on slopes and bluffs in dry to moist forests, usually associated with Kalmia latifolia.
stems:
leaves: Leaves on long petioles arising from rhizime, triangular-heart-shaped, 1-4 in. long and wide, usually not variegated, evergreen-leathery with a spicy smell when torn.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers arise from the rhizome on such short stalks that they are often hidden beneath leaf litter. They are greenish or purplish outside and dark red-purple and reticulate-ridged inside, fleshy-firm, weakly bell-shaped with 3 spreading-ascending triangular lobes, the lobes often mottled with white or green.
fruits: Fruit a round, fleshy capsule.
comments: A southern Appalachian endemic.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: