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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. Basionym: Asarum heterophyllum Ashe 1897

Links to other floras: = Hexastylis heterophylla - FNA3

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Heliophily ⓘ: 1

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image of plant© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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:



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